Face to Face With Dr. Carlos Cabrera

Carlos Antonio Cabrera May knew since he was a child that he wanted to be a doctor. So, when he graduated from Prepa, he applied and was accepted into Medical School at Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán. When he finished his six-year degree, he, like all graduating doctors in Mexico, performed his year of social service. Unlike other doctors, however, because he was so effective in his work, he was placed in two six-month service terms (in Pustunich and Santa Elena) rather than one 12-month posting. In 2007-08 he was named Doctor of the Year in one of the three health districts (District #3) of Yucatán.

While in these rural settings, he was struck by the enormous impact of HIV and AIDS on the people there. At the same time, he was approached by Dr. Gordon Crofoot, the co-founder, president, and medical director of Brazos Abiertos, Inc. a nonprofit corporation in the State of Texas. Dr. Crofoot and Brazos Abiertos work on the education and treatment of HIV. Carlos was invited to represent Brazos’ sister organization, Fundación BAI A.C., a Mexican corporation with non-profit status. He started out as a volunteer and is now the only paid staff due to the generosity of a grant from a US donor. He wears many hats, but mainly is the Medical Director - México as well as the supervisor for the education program. (www.hivyucatan.org)

Yucatán has the fifth highest ranking in Mexico for the incidence of HIV, largely spread by unprotected sex. 23% of new infections are in women. Brazos Abiertos and BAI have two areas of focus: education (prevention campaigns, school workshops, teen training, adult education, health fairs and more), and medical (detection campaigns with free confidential anonymous testing, counseling, channeling patients through the medical system, monthly follow-up, drug compliance, and review of lab tests). Much of the work is centered around lifting the stigma associated with the disease. Their current big project, which will have facilities for both fields of focus, is the HIV Education and Prevention Center, on Calle 72 in Centro. The two-storey building’s second floor just opened on March 7, where its administration offices are located. The ground floor will contain examination rooms, social workers, a dentist, psychologist, nurses, and eventually more physicians. Donors are needed to make this a reality.

Carlos says he has grown immensely as a person since his work began. “Working on the stigma associated with HIV gives people the opportunity to be tested when they are at risk,” he says. “We help them to feel a part of society, and that their world is not crashing down; with treatment advances, it is no longer a death sentence. With higher self-esteem there is less depression and fewer suicides. We help people to achieve a good life expectancy.” Carlos is particularly careful to emphasize the human side of medical care. “For me, the human part is not forgotten. I believe that ‘medicine’ involves the treatment of people, not patients. I hope that my humanity helps people to overcome their illnesses.” On the subject of medical advances, Carlos says, “Medically, there may be a cure for HIV/ AIDS one day. But until we cure the psychological damage, we will still have HIV. We need to abolish the disease completely.”

by Juanita Stein

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