As we continue our work in the villages of the Amazon jungle, we are looking to our plans for 2011. We already have several major trips planned, with a focus on dental/medical care, the women’s project, community health and education, and a sustainable program providing better access to medicines and supplies.
For 2011:
January - a group of approx 30 volunteer dentists, hygienists, physicians, RNs, and medical staff will provide much needed care in the villages. This will be the first time in my 10 years of going to the jungle that dentists have visited these villages. That very well may mean this is the first time the people have ever received dental care.
April – we will start our women’s project which will occur over several trips. Our target for this trip is 10 villages, or approx 500 women. To my knowledge, almost no women have ever had a GYN exam. We will be doing pap smears (government pays for testing), breast exams, and treatment if necessary. We will also be assuring that every woman who wants birth control has access. The rest of the trip will be dedicated to general education on women’s health and on domestic violence, as well as a midwife class. Detailed data will be kept to establish baseline information.
July – University of Colorado medical students will be returning to continue their project of community health, based on standards developed by the Minister of Health in Peru. They will provide education to the lay health workers about health safety issues, i.e. food handling, waste and sanitation, safe water, fencing animals, venting smoke form cooking fires, etc. Then they will make community home visits with the health workers to model and teach families how to live safer. In addition we will also do educational classes for the lay health workers on medical information and first aid.
Sustainable program for access to medications – In the past we delivered medicines to the communities. As they have become more organized, we would like to take their dependence off DB Peru. We are reintroducing the older government program allowing health workers to buy medicines and supplies from the government pharmacies to resell back to the villagers. This provides the people with access to a trained person with medicines, as well as money to keep the program going. This is linked with our education program for health workers. In order to help the smaller communities get started, we plan to donate the first supply of medicines that the health workers can sell, which will ensure a continuing cash flow for future purchases of medicines.
In order to provide these services to the 5000 people living in 25 villages on the Napo River, we would like to ask your help with funding.
Ideas:
* For gifts at the holidays, for the person who has “everything”, make a donation in their name. We will send a card to them acknowledging your gift.
* Set up routine monthly withdrawal from Visa or Master Card.
* Send a one-time gift either open, or designating which project above you would prefer your money goes to.
These Special Projects are funded separately:
Norma Louise Stainsby Memorial Scholarship Program – this is a program for high school graduates from the jungle to go to Iquitos jungle city to learn health careers in nursing or lab technician. It is a 3-year program and is approx $1500 per year per student which also covers some living expenses, such as food and transportation to classes.
Amazon Women’s Sewing Project – this is a 3-year program to teach women in the jungle to sew professionally. We have been providing sewing machines and supplies, and their classes are growing. Each regular Singer machine is approx $100 or they appreciate money to purchase fabrics and supplies.
In USA – Donations can be sent to:
In Peru – Donations can be sent to:
In Peru – Donations can be sent to:DB Peru DB Peru
DB Peru2855 Forbes St. Comandante Juan Moore 345 Dpto 1102
Comandante Juan Moore 345 Dpto 1102Jacksonville, FL 32205 Miraflores, Lima 018
Miraflores, Lima 018(Tax-deductible in USA)
For VISA or MasterCard – Please contact me at dbperuong@aol.com
On behalf of the people in the Amazon jungle, thank you for your support.
Please visit us on the website www.dbperuong.com.
Diana Bowie, President DB Peru
501 c3 charitable organization in USA - ONG in Peru
