In September of 1999, Luis Colato, Efraím Solis, Roberto Cruz, and Mark Hoffman attended the 5th international conference on Disasters and risk management seminar at the Palace of Conventions in Havana Cuba. We were also invited to see the infamous ELAM, Latin American Medical School in Baracoa the year of its founding. In response to Hurricane Mitch, Fidel Castro formed the school giving full ride scholarships to Latin Americans, North Americans, Haitians, and Africans. The only requirement is that the students return to their country of origin and work with the poor. Since 1999, the ELAM has graduated more than seven Salvadoran classes on the Caribbean Island. For more information about the conference, please visit here, and the school here. CDS were grateful for the time spent meeting Cuban friends and getting to know the culture. We welcome any ELAM graduates to colaborate with us.
Salvadoreñas Edith Anaya y Jeneatte Melgar of the 2nd graduated ELAM class with other classmates with their degrees at graduation 2006.
Luis Colato pictured in the mid 2000’s assisting a female affected by teargas during confrontations between street vendors and riot police.
Regarding the illness that Luis Colato exhibited last week, we are hearing many versions and will release formal information regarding what happened soon, but for now this is what we understand. A week ago Luis started to present with vertigo, incoherent speech. He was complaining of headaches yet attributed them to migraines he had on a regular basis. He then had a convulsion. It is suspected that Luis may have developed a clot from the head injuryand this caused a stroke. He was flown via Helicopter from Santa Ana to San Salvador and admitted to the Social Security Hospital on March 8th. He was intubated due to labored breathing. Doctors operated and drained 60ml of blood from his cranium to relieve pressure. The wound was left open for 72 hours to drain cephalic fluid. Members of Comandos de Salvamento, friends and family did a Vigil March on Tuesday March 13 which stopped in front of the ISSS Hospital at 6pm. Luis has been in a coma for almost a week and will undergo another operation to relieve pressure from swelling on Thursday March 15th. We asked for your prayers during this trying time for the institution. Luis has served the institution since the mid 1980s as EMT, EMS Educator, and Board Member. Luis is not only an integral part of our Medical Services, and Disaster Mitigation, but an important part of our family.
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