Bolivia announces UNASUR summit

Translated by Brian Schwarz

Originally published January 4, 2010 in "La Prensa" of Managua, Nicaragua (laprensa.com.ni) under the heading Bolivia anuncia cumbre de Unasur

LA PAZ, BOLIVIA (AFP) – The Bolivian government announced Monday in La Paz that the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) will host a summit in Quito, Ecuador, January 27 and 28, to discuss the issue of the seven U.S. military bases in Colombia.

“We will be arranging a meeting of the heads of state of UNASUR, January 27 and 28, where we will discuss exclusively the issue of the military bases” in Colombia, said Bolivian defense minister Walker San Miguel, interviewed by the private radio station Erbol.

The Bolivian official announced that “the Bolivian government will take its well-known stance” at the meeting, referring to La Paz’ firm criticism of the U.S. military bases, a position clearly shared by Colombia’s neighbors, Venezuela and Ecuador.

The existence of more than six bases staffed with U.S. personnel has generated a total impasse in the region, which feels uncomfortable with the foreign presence”, said the defense minister, Bolivia’s point person on the Colombia-U.S. military situation.

At the last meeting of UNASUR, held in Quito last November, defense ministers agreed to organize a regional meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton in order to discuss the matter.

UNASUR, headquartered in Ecuador, is comprised of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Guyana, Paraguay, Perú, Surinam, Uruguay and Venezuela. [UNASUR in this article refers to the voting body formed by the UNASUR treaty, signed in 2008, which aims to organize South America in a model similar to that of the European Union with a common currency, parliament, and passport.]

Hospital inaugurates Paraguay's first pediatric cancer reverse isolation ward

Translated by Brian Schwarz

Originally published Monday, December 14, 2009, in “Ultima Hora” (ultimahora.com) under the heading Inauguran primera sala estéril para niños con cancer

SAN LORENZO, PARAGUAY – The Acosta Ñu Pediatric Hospital of San Lorenzo inaugurated the country’s first pediatric cancer reverse isolation ward in a ceremony Monday that was attended by Paraguayan President Fernando Lugo.

The ward, which will be in use starting in January, will help protect children from contracting potentially fatal infections while their immune systems are down due to ongoing chemotherapy treatments.

The isolation center will have four rooms, each equipped with an air filtration system, audiovisual alarm, and special antibacterial floors, windows and doors. The equipment was installed by experts from Argentina.

Brazilian hydroelectric company ITAIPU Binacional donated $110,000 for purchase of the specialized equipment, the Mitai Association of Fathers [of children with cancer], gave $15,000 for furnishings, and the Health Ministry gave $163,400 [figure converted from the Paraguayan guaraní currency] to cover the project’s construction costs.