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Yajaira is two. She is tiny, with straight brown hair
cut like a pixie and big brown eyes that well over with tears. Her parents are migrant workers and she and her
family are soon leaving to work the crops in Arizona. Yajaira cries constantly and pulls at her ears. She is brought
to the RotaCare Free Clinic at the Arturo Ochoa Migrant Camp,  which they call "Clinica de la Raza" (Clinic of the People).
The doctor prescribes medication for an ear infection. On her follow-up visit two weeks later, the amoxicillin
she was given has cleared up the ear infection and Yajaira is a pain free, giggling little girl able to travel
to her family's next job. The only time of the year that Yajaira receives non-emergency medical care is when she
lives in the migrant camp in Gilroy.
When Maria and her three children came in recently she
quietly whispered to the triage nurse that she thought that maybe the children had head lice. She was very embarrassed
that her children were "dirty" and was reluctant to seek treatment. Not only did the entire family leave
the clinic that night with Lindane shampoo for each of them but Maria was educated on how lice is transmitted and
how to wash her bedding and clothing to make sure that the infestation was stopped immediately. Maria walked out
with her head held high and the tools to take care of her family.
Lydia came into the clinic one Saturday morning complaining
that it hurt to urinate. She had been in increasing pain for several days and was afraid she was going to end up
in the emergency room. She couldn't afford care but was afraid the pain was going to get so bad that she would
be forced to seek help. Lydia was treated with an antibiotic for her urinary tract infection and given Pyridium
for the pain. She was also surprised to learn that she was pregnant. The physician and nurses gave her information
on how to obtain free prenatal care and advised her of the importance of immediately seeking treatment. Lydia was
grateful for both the pain relief and the information on how to find care for her unborn child.
Almost half of the patients seen in RotaCare Free Clinics
are children and over half of all patients are female. Many patients are unable to receive care because they work
and either don't qualify for assistance or weren't born in this country. Thus, they are faced with either being
able to afford to feed, house and clothe their family or get medical care. This is a terrible choice for any person
to have to make.
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