A Historical and Memorable Week of Medical Geology Activities in Bolivia

A Historical and Memorable Week of Medical Geology Activities in Bolivia (April 6‐9‐2009). Under the auspices of the US‐Agency for International Development (US‐AID), Socios para el Desarrollo (Pro‐Salud), and the Bolivian Academy of Medicine, medical geology was highlighted in several medical schools and universities in Bolivia during the week of April 6‐9, 2009.  Jose A. Centeno was the keynote speaker presenting lectures on medical geology and the International Year of Planet Earth at universities and medical schools in several Bolivian cities including Sucre, Potosi and Oruro.  Jose’s lectures were aimed at introducing Medical Geology to Bolivian universities, to students as well as environmental, and health professionals, emphasizing the significance of geosciences and public health/biomedical sciences to our planet and to our society.   His lectures were attended by several hundred students, community leaders, local and regional government officials, as well as the local press.   Several activities included reviewing environmental and public health research projects, and visiting sites among communities adversely impacted by natural and anthropogenic exposures affecting human health and environmental quality.  In Bolivia, an unprecedented opportunity exists to improve human well‐ being and accelerate progress towards sustainable development of medical geology practices toward s protection if human health through the development and implementation of research projects.  For example,  in the city of Potosi, (a city with a history of uncontrolled mining practices) studies are being conducted by Dr. Rosario Tapia Montecinos et al (2008) to better understand and mitigate the impact that mining practices may have had on the health of adjacent communities.   The interaction between toxicologists, epidemiologist, clinicians, geoscientists, and public health professional have proven one more time to be a valuable tool in addressing these multidimensional problems.   Similarly, in the city of Oruro, a region known for its widespread mining practice, studies are being conducted to better understand the impact of both natural and  anthropogenic activities may have on the pediatric community (Barbieri F, 2009; in preparation).  A summary of the Barbieri et al (2009) study is included in this Newsletter.      Finally, the week culminated with an outstanding Symposium organized by the Bolivian Academy of Medicine and sponsored by USAID and ProSalud (Socios para el Desarrollo).  The Symposium entitled Environmental, Human Health and Medical Geology was held on April 8‐9, 2009 in La Paz, Bolivia.  IMGA was represented by the Chair of our Education Committee, Bob Finkelman, and Jose.   IMGA is proud of working together with our Bolivian colleagues and our newly established Bolivian Chapter on Medical Geology (BCMG) in facilitating and encouraging medical geology activities in Bolivia and in the region.  The goal of IMGA, working together with BCMG, is to develop a strategy to further increase the appreciation of IMGA by environmental, biomedical, governmental and public communities as a contender among environmental and medical associations.     For additional information on the above listed projects and on newly established Bolivian Chapter on Medical Geology, we encourage you to please contact: Dr. Jaime Rios Dalenz (Pathologist), President BCMG;  Email: jriosdal@hotmail.com Lic. Rosario Tapia Montecinos . (clinician); Email: charitotapia@hotmail.com Dr. Jacques Gardon (Physician, Epidemiologist); Email: jacques.gardon@ird.fron Medical Geology, Jose A. Centeno, PhD, FRSC, Chairman, International Medical Geology Association; , Chairman, International Medical Geology Association; tonycent@comcast.net Please enjoy this Newsletter and thank you for your support and participation on Medical O capítulo boliviano foi oficialmente criado em 09 de abril de 2009 durante o Primeiro Simpósio sobre boliviano "Geologia Meio Ambiente, Saúde e Medicina", que foi organizada em La Paz, Bolívia, sob os auspícios da Academia Boliviana de Medicina e parágrafo Socios el Desarrallo (Pro- Salud) da Bolívia. Este capítulo é composto por mais de 25 membros com a participação de estudantes e profissionais de ciências médicas, geociências, e as comunidades ambientais e de saúde pública e com representações de todas as partes da Bolívia. Contato: Dr. Jaime Rios Dalenz, Patologista, Bolívia Academy of Medicine, La Paz, Bolívia. jriosdal@hotmail.com. Leia o relatório de 2009 do capítulo boliviano aqui