Local students gain health care skills

Nuestros Ninos is a summer camp that teaches about working in the healthcare field

SAN LUIS, Ariz. (KECY, KYMA) Students received real-world training and also learned about options for college courses at the San Luis Medical Mall.

As the Regional Center for Border Health is making sure our community has the workforce to keep us healthy for years to come.

For 25 years, the "Nuestros Ninos" summer camp has been instructing kids about working in the healthcare field.

This a unique opportunity Gustavo Alvarez is proud to lead.

“We have our children, and they go around Yuma County, especially San Luis, and Somerton, to conduct a community census on vaccinations and immunizations to cover Yuma County," Alvarez said.

Learning in the field and in the classroom, from general first aid to practicing CPR.

“I could give CPR and potentially save someone I care about’s life, and I am probably the only one in my family who knows this,” rising sophomore Nathan Aguilar said.

For others, like rising senior Alvaro Carlos, the class was an opportunity to learn about college programs offered locally across the science and healthcare fields.

To help get him closer to figuring out what he wants to do for his career.

“Maybe the medical field like a nurse, after talking to the colleges here like something in STEM is interesting," Carlos said. "Or engineering because they said they talk with NASA because I love space, also maybe biology.”

Whatever the kids end up choosing it all starts with, "Nuestros Ninos".

Just like it did for Alvarez himself.

“I was part of Nuestros Ninos in 2003, and here I am after 18 years working for the Regional Center for Border Health,” Alvarez said.

The students will graduate from the class on Thursday.

They’ll be certified for CPR and eligible to be hired as direct care workers.