Brazos Abiertos’s Casa Esperanza, the home of Yucatan’s first free HIV clinic, will provide anonymous testing (no anonymous testing has been available in the Yucatan) and state-of-the-art treatment with cutting edge drug therapies, as well as a safe place for counseling and a center for our education and outreach programs.  In late 2007, a building was purchased in the El Centro area of Merida by funds from a generous American donor.  Well located along bus routes, the building sits next door to the Health Ministry.  Currently, planning is underway for the renovation that will turn it into a modern health clinic to be overseen by Dr. Carlos Cabrera, a Yucatecan doctor, under the direction of Dr. Gordon Crofoot who serves as both the Brazos Abiertos Medical Director and President of the Board of Directors.

On its first floor, the two-story building will house the free clinic with its exam and treatment rooms, staff areas, with future plans for a laboratory to process blood tests, and eventually a dental care room.  In Merida, HIV infected patients will not be seen in the same dental offices as noninfected persons.  Area dentists have offered their services once BAI’s dental facilities become a reality.

The second floor will house our education and counseling services with space for programs and group meetings such as Next Step developed by Legacy Community Health Services, which works with newly diagnosed HIV patients to help them negotiate going forward with their lives.   Our condom distribution program – already underway in the villages - will also be directed out of this space.

Fundraising is also underway for the renovation project. You can make a donation by sending a check to the address at the left or clicking the button on the left to use PayPal. We hope to have funding in place to complete the renovation and open the facility in 2009.