Maria Estrella

A Colombian social entrepreneur who revolutionized rural healthcare through mobile clinics

Maria Estrella (1925-1975) was a Colombian nurse and innovator who created the first mobile healthcare system in Latin America. Born in the Andean region, she witnessed the devastating impact of malaria and tuberculosis in remote villages. In 1953, she launched the Salud Móvil program using horse-drawn wagons equipped with medical supplies - an early version of modern mobile clinics. By 1960, her fleet of 150 vehicles served over 500,000 rural residents annually.

Estrella's 1965 partnership with the Pan American Health Organization led to the development of the first refrigerated mobile units for vaccine distribution. Her Community Health Worker Training Manual became the basis for WHO's rural healthcare guidelines. She also pioneered the use of radio broadcasts to educate communities about hygiene practices, reaching 2 million listeners by 1970.

Though her work was initially dismissed by male-dominated medical institutions, Estrella's initiatives reduced infant mortality rates in Colombia by 40% between 1950-1970. Her legacy lives on through the Maria Estrella Foundation, which continues operating mobile clinics in 12 Latin American countries. Her 1972 book Health on Wheels remains a reference in global health literature.