Our Lopez Mateos Clinic
The location of this clinic is shown on the
Baja
California aeronautical chart as Puerto Adolfo Lopez Mateos (sometimes spelled
Matoes) and is at a latitude of 25 degrees, 11 minutes north and 112 degrees, 7
minutes west. It is on the Pacific Coast of the Baja California
Sur. The Local population refers to this small fishing village of
approximately
2000
people as Matancitas. The 4300 foot runway is hard packed dirt
and is usually very well maintained, especially during February and March when
many tourists fly into the area to go whale watching.
In 1990 the town suffered an 80% unemployment rate when the cannery reduced employees from 1200 to 100. While on a whale-watching trip to Lopez Mateos in 1994, the Rotary and the community leaders of Lopez Mateos met with members of the Los Amigos Chapter and asked them to help provide needed health care to their town. They hosted a tour of the town and provided a fish fry luncheon complete with turtle soup. In September, 1994 the Los Amigos Chapter held their first clinic in Lopez Mateos.
In 1995 the
Sams conducted their clinic in an old house located in the center of town.
The old house was owned by the bank and considered uninhabitable because
of termite infestation. In 2001 the cannery donated land
for use by the Los Amigos Chapter and the Sams began renovation of a small
building located on the property. In 2003 the Phoenix Sams moved their clinic out of the condemned building in town and into
the newly renovated building. The new clinic building was made
possible through the generosity of the cannery who donated the land, the
hard work of Sams volunteers who worked many weekends to renovate the
building, and the humanitarian financial donations of many, many people. Since
that time there have been two more additions to provide additional
services to the community
The dental area has 4 dental chairs plus 2 chairs dedicated to dental hygienists. The clinic also has three chiropractic tables and four medical examination rooms, including facilities for an OB/GYN as well as other medical personnel. There is also a well equipped pharmacy. In 2005 an eye clinic was added to the other free services that the Los Amigos chapter provides to this remote fishing village. All of the equipment was donated, or purchased from money donated, and hauled to clinic in small aircraft, often in pieces, to be reassembled by our helpers at the clinic.
With
the clinic situated at the end of the runway right by the parking area
we have been able to be a lot more efficient. With the old clinic in
town we had to wait for rides, get every thing into the cars or pickups
and then go to clinic, a lot of times that would take an extra 30
minuets. Now you get out of the airplane and walk into the clinic. There
are pilots and helper to give you a hand taking things into the clinic.
With in 5 minuets of landing you can be working. And when it is time to
leave and return to the hotel it is a real time saver to be on the
airport. With the prevailing wind blowing on shore it is necessary to
taxi to the east end and turn into the wind for the take off. When you
have 8 or 10 planes all wanting to leave at the same time it doesn't
work too well. Now when some of the people are done a little early they
and the pilot just walk out to the plane and leave, no waiting for rides
back to the airport. A much better and more efficient operation.
SEE PICTURES OF CONSTRUCTION AT OUR CLINIC AT LOPEZ MATEOS