Hurray for ghouls! Cruz Roja Chapala (CRC) is proudly showing off the upgrade of its facilities paid for with proceeds from the “Thrill the World” zombie dance show held last October in Ajijic.
Dee Grant and Val Jones, organizers of last year’s Thriller spectacle, were on hand as honored guests at the formal unveiling of the Red Cross clinic upgrades held earlier this month. They accompanied honorary board president Yolanda Martínez on a walk through the recently completed work.
“Thanks to people like you we are able to carry on with plans and goals for Cruz Roja Chapala, because without you, none of what you see would have been possible,” Martínez declared.
A major part of the project was the replacement of nearly all flooring materials. Immaculate white tiles now stretch wall to wall from the main entrance corridor through the doctors’ consultation and delivery rooms, the x-ray unit, bathrooms, administrative offices, visitor waiting areas, the radio communication cabin, and the kitchen, dining and lounge spaces for physicians and paramedics. The only section left untouched is the emergency room, where the cement and stone surface remains in optimum condition.
In addition, the Zombie event raised enough money to pay for installing new plumbing equipment and to patch and repaint walls in every corner of the clinic. The municipal government pitched in with manpower during three months of ongoing labors.
The Thriller ladies also chipped in to cover six months in expenses for the clinic’s medical supplies.
More outside support
Several days later, Martínez presented certificates of appreciation to representatives of the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) workers union for the members’ annual collective contribution to CRC. Individual donations averaged 370 pesos per employee, totaling 80,744 pesos, a hike of nearly 10 percent over last year.
The contribution is being applied to Cruz Roja operating expenses averaging around 350,000 each month, including staff salaries, ambulance fuel and maintenance and utilities, along with essential medicines and clinic materials.
“About 80 percent of the patients we attend don’t pay our suggested recuperation fees for services rendered,” Martinez pointed out. “But our mission is to care for everyone who requires our help, numbering more than 2,500 persons every month.”
Cruz Roja is run independently, without official government funding. Donations and fundraising activities are its life blood.