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| Ecuadorian Amazon Health Project |
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In April 2002, a CFHI healthcare team hiked through the sweltering heat and mud of the Amazon Jungle in eastern Ecuador. Traveling on foot to visit the remote indigenous communities of the Shuar was certainly a challenge, but the team knew it would be well worth the effort. Before CFHI teams began trekking to Shuar communities, there was little public health infrastructure and high levels of infectious disease and infant mortality. Now, through the efforts of CFHI’s teams, the health of the Shuar communities has greatly improved.
In 1998, CFHI and seventeen Shuar communities formed an alliance to provide primary healthcare and education, as well as to increase Shuar self-sufficiency in health issues. In February, April, and July 2002, CFHI teams visited twenty-seven communities. The teams traveled from village to village, serving about 1,200 people by providing primary care treatment. Better access to healthcare has reduced morbidity and mortality rates among the Shuar.
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| Health Promotion |
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Under the direction of Dr. Wilfrido Torres, CFHI healthcare teams led workshops for children and adults, using games, songs, and colorful posters to convey important messages on relevant health issues like skin infections, parasites, and sanitation. The workshops focused on both the treatment and prevention of disease.
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In each village, CFHI also provided hands-on training for health promoters. These thirty health promoters have become an important component in ensuring the health of their community. Susana Tuitza became a health promoter in her village of Shakai because of the many health problems there and because the nearest clinic is eight hours away by foot. Following her training, Susana has cured many people of mycosis, a skin fungus. In addition, she was able to treat an outbreak of diarrhea in the village. During the past five years, CFHI’s training of health promoters like Susana not only has increased awareness of public health among the Shuar but has helped to make Shuar communities much more self-sufficient.
CFHI has recently joined a community health project in Puyo, another indigenous, rural region of Ecuador. Like the Shuar project, the Puyo project emphasizes children’s health issues and community involvement.
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| CFHI has recently joined a community health project in Puyo, another indigenous, rural region of Ecuador. Like the Shuar project, the Puyo project emphasizes children’s health issues and community involvement. Join us as we start this new charitable effort. |
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Please support the ongoing work of CFHI in the Puyo area. Donate online now, or contact David - donate@cfhi.org or 415-957-9000. Checks can be mailed to Child Family Health International, 995 Market St. Suite 1104, San Francisco, CA 94103. Please specify that you would like your donation to go to the Ecuadorian Amazon Health Project in Puyo.
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