DB Peru

Annual Report 2006

We have had an exciting year with our work at DB Peru in the Amazon rainforest.  We are the only non-profit (NGO) organization continuously working in healthcare on the lower Napo River area of the Amazon.  We directly reach 3000-4000 people, as well as aiding the clinics and hospitals in the smaller towns and city of Iquitos.

In keeping with our mission of improving health care access, we have continued make our routine delivery of medicines and supplies to the villages every 3 months.  Most of the medicines and medical supplies were purchased from Heart to Heart International in their Small International Projects Program, and donations of supplies were received from Craig Dudash, Dr. Dieter Ruidi, and Susan Ebert.

With the purchase of a new motor, we have been able to increase the number of villages that we visit from 7 to 17, including a native tribe of Yagua Indians – $7000 donated by Gary Bowie.   

In addition to our regular visits, here are some of the highlights of our project work:

Donation of all the equipment needs to the clinic in Mazan, which included a microscope, autoclave, beds, tables, wheelchairs, instruments, etc. – Grant in 2005 from Miracles In Action, and a donation of a wheelchair from Airline Ambassadors.

A 2-day educational seminar taught by doctors and nurses for the lay health workers and midwives in February – Grant from Miracles In Action.

Installation of 2 more radios, antennas, and solar panels - these were placed at Orellana and San Alejandro – Grant from Miracles In Action.  New battery purchased for the radio at San Juan de Floresta by DB Peru.

Microscope donated to the clinic in Orellana – courtesy of Dr. Linnea Smith.

Donation of a large amount of fabric and sewing supplies for the women in the villages– Harriette Hahn and Lyn Bolinger.

Delivery of 10 new handmade wooden stretchers – Shared funding from Miracles In Action and DB Peru.

Donation and fitting of reading glasses in 6 villages – Scott Dennis.

Toothbrush/dental program, including education for school children – Mari Villacicencio and Juvencio Nuñez.

Evaluation of children’s growth.

Delivery of 500 t-shirts for the children – purchased in 2005 by DB Peru.

Traditional Chocolatada Christmas parties in 7 villages in December.

We are pleased to announce that another village, Centro Unido, built a small medical hut with their own resources.  Our only contribution was a mattress for the bed. 

Invitations to speak have included a trip to Kansas City to Heart to Heart International Headquarters to share our work, an anthropology class in Middle Tennessee State University to debate cultural issues, and a presentation at the Rotary Club in Lima.

Aside from jungle work, we also work in other areas of Peru.  In November, we received $5000 from the Miracles In Action charity, in which $2500 was earmarked for the children’s home, Cuidad le los Niños outside Lima in Pachacamac, and $2500 for the Hogar Santa Martha, a home also for children in Pachacamac.  For Villa Martha we also received a donation of $1000 from an American Airlines representative.

A donation of $1680 was made for the home for abused girls, Caritas Felices in Pachacamac by Miracles In Action.  DB Peru augmented this with clothing, school supplies, and food.

In Piura to the north of Peru, is a home for the aged in Morropon, Hogar Asilo Resurrección.  With a donation of $1000 from Norva Achenbaugh, bee-keeping supplies were purchased to allow them to raise money to support the home.  Sister Mary Leah Baehl oversees the project.

DB Peru donated clothing for the children in that town.

We assisted Deb Zulawski and Pam Probst with their clothing project in Iquitos with the native Shipibo Indians.

A shipment of 600 pair of shoes was received from Share Your Soles charity – to be delivered 2007

Humanitarian aid supplies, included tools, clothing, underwear, shoes, school supplies, were donated by:

Bev Larson

Susan Ebert

Norva Achenbaugh

Deb Zulawski

Mari Villacicencio

Peg Meyer

Cash donations were received from:

Ruth Hoag

Rob and Teri Dowdy

Don and Norma Stainsby

Dr. Paul and Karen Jacobs

Ruth Crawley

Susan Elizabeth

Jackie Sisson

Alane Cater

Michael Saxton

Cynthia England

Lee and Aubrey Zellar

Special thanks go to Raul Pettit for allowing us to use his lodge in the jungle near San Pedro.  He also graciously gave us space in his home for our supplies to be stored between our visits to Iquitos.

Thank you to our volunteers:

John Waymire, a frequent companion

Nima Ghomeshi

Angela Pearl

Sean Tourtellotte

Juvencio Nuñez

Segundo Linorio

Thank you to our class instructors:

Jose Rivas MD

Jessica Portocarrero, Nurse Midwife

Ruth Lazo, RN

Diana Bowie, President

Renzo Peña, Vice President