Health Project
Introduction
In
rural areas of Ecuador more than 90% of the population live in poverty
and of these 60% live in extreme poverty. Infant morality rates are
three times as high as those of the cities. The province of Chimborazo
is the most affected by this situation having 100 infant deaths amongst
every 1000 births. These deaths are produced by "poverty sicknesses",
such as respiratory and intestinal infections, illnesses which can be
prevented. A health study revealed that the highest incidences of mothers
dying at the moment of giving birth is among illiterate women.
August,1999 Health Project:
The recent death of Maria Flor Buñay, a 12 year old student in the school is illustrative of the difficulties involved in community health care. A few days after a class excursion to a neighboring hillside Maria Flor had intestinal problems. She was interned in a clinic in Riobamba where she was given medicines intravenously for 2 days, however her parents were unable to pay the bill so she was taken to her home where her condition worsened. The parents blamed the school teacher for having taken her to a part of the mountain which is considered to have an evil environment. They had a medicine man (Shaman) take Maria Flor to another part of the mountain but her condition continued to worsen. Within 3 weeks weakened by high fevers and pneumonia Maria Flor died.
Her unnecessary death is attributed to the 'poverty diseases' which result in a death rate of more than 100 children in a 1000 dying before they reach the age of 5. Sicknesses related to poverty can be easily prevented with proper housing, food and opportune vaccinations. They are tragic deaths because they are unnecessary given what medicine knows about sicknesses today.
In the 2 years since 3 native women began receiving training in community health care there have been some improvements. Thanks to the generosity of English and American friends a medical post has been equipped with basic equipment and is staffed by the 3 women who have received a half dozen workshops on preventive medicine. Now on the eve of the new millenium it is hoped that their work will intensify with health controls and regular check-ups for the children and elderly of the community. The diocese of Riobamba is building a hospital for the Indians where alternative medicine will be available and where cases that cannot be attended locally can be sent.
The women themselves are taking a renewed interest in the herbal medicines available in the area learning to identify and process them for local use. The paramo with its unique plant and flower life has enormous medicinal potential for society and as time progresses the community plans on commercializing these plants.
InterConnection
