The renovated mobile operating room of the CINTERANDES Foundation

The legacy of the surgeon Edgar Rodas Andrade continues. Now more than ever, thanks to the Foundation's renovated mobile operating room that 'Cinterandes' created.

The presentation took place yesterday in the multipurpose room of the University of Azuay (UDA), an entity with which they have an agreement for patient care.

Just after three decades of history, the mobile operating room has been renovated, said the current president of the Foundation, Hernán Rodas Reinbach. This is a way to keep alive the memory of his father, the creator of this initiative that was implemented to reach “those most in need,” commented the manager.

The renovated mobile unit has all the necessary supplies to perform operations such as: general surgery, urology, gynecology, otorhinolaryngology, ophthalmology, pediatrics and different complexities.

Throughout its history, Rodas Reinbach recalled, 8.974 surgeries were performed in the mobile unit, they have visited 112 communities in 18 of the 24 provinces and they have received 12.490 missions and more than 100 foreign students.

Added to this contribution is that of students from the UDA, University of Cuenca and the Catholic University of Cuenca.

These figures motivate him to maintain his father's goal, “allowing access to quality, free surgical interventions to people with limited resources and distant communities.” This, to be a complement to the country's public health entities.

The Foundation was consolidated with committed people like Anita Vicuña,

unit driver who also assists in patient care and preparation.

Currently, the unit operates on the UDA campus and is open for care, medical consultations and surgical interventions. In this space they are open on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 08:30 to 13:00. In addition, they plan visiting days in different provinces.

It is pending to visit the provinces of Santa Elena, Zamora Chinchipe, Manabí and others.

The staff doctor is Blasco Guzhñay, who is in charge of preparing patients from the communities. Rodas Reinbach did not forget the main donor to make the renovation a reality. According to what he said, the person who did it is a foreigner who was part of one of the missions and who “convinced that it was worth helping,” he emphasized.