El Salvador: Breaking the invisible barriers that divide neighborhoods controlled by gangs

Families trapped by violence

The community of La Concepción is one of many that have been trapped between territories carved out by violent gangs in San Salvador. Known locally as maras, the criminal groups battle state security forces as well as fighting amongst themselves. As a result, El Salvador now has the highest murder rate in Central America and is one of the most dangerous countries in the world.

The areas controlled by the gangs make up a patchwork of so-called red zones, divided by an invisible network of frontiers. If one’s local health center is in an area controlled by a rival gang, it can be almost impossible to reach the services it offers, due to threats, fear, or stigma. This problem is particularly acute for younger residents.

Access to sexual and reproductive health

“Today, many women tell me that they have not had a cervical smear for a long time simply because of the area where they live,” says José Enrique.

Twenty-five-year-old Maria confirms this. “There are clinics that we can’t go to because of the neighborhood we live in,” she says. Maria, who has just had a cervical scan, understands the importance of learning about sexual and reproductive health, even more so after undergoing two abortions as a teenager, in a country where abortion is illegal and can lead to sentences of up to 30 years in prison. “I suffered and I would not wish that on anyone,” says Maria.

MSF returns health care to cut-off red-zone communities

Our teams are working in ‘red-zone’ neighborhoods such as La Concepción, sending in mobile medical teams, and providing mental health care, and ambulance service, in coordination with San Salvador’s Community Health Committee and local community leaders. MSF’s presence has helped Ministry of Health staff return to neighborhoods which have been cut off from health services for a long time.

MSF community officer Alfredo Reynosa works in La Concepción with the aim of helping local people gain greater access to health care.

“MSF is the only medical organization with a regular presence here,” says Alfredo.

Sexual and reproductive health and mental health are still stigmatized in El Salvador, but in La Concepción there is increasing awareness of the importance of these health issues. “People already have more confidence,” says Reynosa.

Community confidence returns through health care

Santos Aguirre agrees. Santos is a community leader who has worked with MSF since its teams first came to La Concepción. He believes that our work alongside the Ministry of Health has been vital for local people’s health.

“It's of huge benefit to the community,” says Santos. “As MSF and the Ministry of Health have made the effort to bring services here, so the community is committed to showing its support in return. Little by little, things are achieved.”

Elena, a 51-year-old street vendor who has just had a cervical cancer screening, believes that women should throw aside their fears of getting tested and should take advantage of the health teams’ presence.

“There are a lot of people here who do not get screened because they do not leave the community,” she says, adding that MSF is a great support for “the forgotten population”.

Health promoter Henry Alberto Ramos acknowledges the challenges that health workers have to overcome.

“For the first few days, entering the area was difficult,” says Ramos. “Yes, it was a little scary, because we did not know what the area would be like, and many times I was asked by neighbors what I was doing there—that was a bit frightening.”

But he is pleased with what they have achieved, and hopes that local people will take up the services on offer after being deprived of health care for so long.