Gastrointestinal Illnesses Rise in Tulum’s Irregular Settlements

Tulum, Quintana Roo — Gastrointestinal illnesses are on the rise in Tulum’s irregular settlements, where families struggling to cover their basic needs are increasingly seeking care at charity clinics, according to Rocío Ocaña, director of the Coin Tree foundation.

Ocaña said the organization, which provides medical consultations, has recorded a growing number of patients from informal settlements, most of them suffering from gastrointestinal ailments. Economic hardship, she said, is one of the main difficulties these families face.

“We see mothers who are desperate because they obviously cannot provide for their children. They live in the irregular zone, so they do have a lot of economic problems,” she said.

Beyond financial hardship, Ocaña said the foundation has seen an increase in gastrointestinal illnesses among those who come in for care — mainly fever, diarrhea and infections.

Medicine Supplies Running Out

With consultations on the rise, the foundation reported that it has run out of some of the medicines it distributes, including deworming treatments and drugs used to treat infections.

“Everything ran out because so many people have been coming here for consultations,” the Coin Tree director said.

The foundation warned that the demand for medical care and medicine continues to grow among families in these areas, and said it will keep its support services open to vulnerable residents.