El Alto
Located in El Alto, the Albina R. de Patiño Child Nutrition Centre is more than just a healthcare facility — it is a refuge for children aged 0 to 5 suffering from malnutrition. Run by the Patiño Foundation, it offers a multidisciplinary and human-centered approach to restore health, strengthen families and prevent long-term relapse.
Founded in 2010 by the Simón I. Patiño Foundation, the Child Nutrition Centre in El Alto is one of the few specialised institutions in Bolivia to offer comprehensive care for children aged 0 to 5 suffering from malnutrition. It also welcomes children facing abandonment and in need of social support. Located in one of the country’s most vulnerable urban areas, the centre provides a vital response to a widespread yet under-addressed public health crisis.
Upon arrival, each child is cared for by a multidisciplinary team: nutritionists, doctors, nurses, psychologists and social workers work together to develop a tailored care plan. The centre does not only treat bodies — it supports families in rebuilding a safe, stable and healthy environment.
Each child receives an individualised nutritional assessment. The most serious cases may require several weeks of hospitalisation. The centre also offers evaluations for family members to improve the broader nutritional environment.
The centre provides medical consultations at symbolic prices, along with free vaccinations. This accessibility allows a wide population to benefit — in a country where economic barriers often restrict access to healthcare.
For abandoned children or those living in unstable conditions, social workers provide close support. Psychological assistance is offered to both children and parents to address the invisible causes of malnutrition: isolation, violence, and family breakdown.
Workshops are regularly held for families to teach them how to prepare balanced meals using local ingredients. The centre also organises awareness days open to the community to share healthy eating practices more broadly.
The Child Nutrition Centre in El Alto also leads pilot projects in other regions, such as Potosí. It is committed to continuous improvement through staff training, patient record coordination and diagnostic tools. The centre also introduces innovative educational methods such as chess to develop children’s focus and autonomy, or school support as part of the nutritional care.
El Alto is one of the most populated cities in Bolivia and also one of the most affected by poverty. Nearly 487,000 people lack access to basic needs. The centre works with local and international partners to promote food sovereignty, family empowerment — particularly that of women — and to build a sustainable local response to a national emergency.
Over 120 children receive free care every year
120
Over 100 training workshops held for families
100
2 years of home follow-up after discharge, to prevent relapses
2
By supporting the Child Nutrition Centre in El Alto, you help transform the lives of vulnerable children over the long term. Each donation funds medical care, nutrition workshops, and long-term social support. You become part of a legacy of solidarity rooted in dignity and impact.
This centre is one of the very few in Bolivia. It welcomes malnourished children with both compassion and rigour, and also supports those who have been abandoned. Every nutritional assessment, every consultation, every act here matters in giving these children a real chance to recover.
Partner source (DCC)
