Where Surgery is Difficult: Overcoming Barriers to Access in Chiapas, Mexico
In rural Chiapas, Mexico, poor patients often struggle to access surgical care and other medical treatment, even though access is guaranteed by law under the Mexican constitution. This case examines an innovative approach developed by Compañeros en Salud to accompany patients from rural communities through the health care system. By walking with patients through each step of a complex system, the organization in turn gains insights to barriers that can be addressed in a more systemic fashion. The case also raises questions about scale and how lessons drawn from specific cases of accompaniment might be used to address systems problems. Reifenberg's work on barriers to healthcare access in Chiapas forms the basis of a case study published by Notre Dame's Keough School of Global Affairs.
Steve Reifenberg
Steve Reifenberg is associate professor of the practice of international development and co-director of the Integration Lab (i-Lab). He also is senior strategic advisor and faculty fellow of the Kellogg Institute for International Studies at the University of Notre Dame. Reifenberg’s current research project, “From Aid to Accompaniment,” explores international development as a process of accompaniment. In his teaching about development, he is interested in interactive pedagogical approaches such as engaging students with international development “clients.” Before coming to Notre Dame in February 2010, Reifenberg worked for nearly two decades on international education, negotiation and development issues at Harvard University.
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Originally published at mexicocity.nd.edu.