Emergency Health Fund for the Shipibo people

Check out our video HERE

After the successful Papanicolaou Campaign, the obstetrician from the neighbouring community of Tiruntan, committed to carry out the HIV and Syphilis campaign with our support. It was decided to do this campaign before closing the year 2018. For that, it was necessary to inform the community of Paoyhan, holding a workshop where they would talk about diseases. Because everything was organized in the short term, it was decided to hold the workshop one day before the Campaign. There were no difficulties in coordinating with the community members involved. Only the date was changed once, advancing the campaign for one day. But thanks to our flexible availability that was not a problem.

On behalf of AA, we offered to cover the expenses of meals and transportation from Tiruntán to Paoyhan for the health personnel.
 
General description of the activity:
On Friday the 30th of November, we arrived at 11am to Paoyhan. As planned, the HIV and Syphilis Workshop was held that same day, at three in the afternoon. The workshop was held at the Paoyhan Medical Post. The collaboration of three community health workers and José, in charge of the medical post, facilitated the realization of the Workshop. The mothers and children of the community were arriving little by little. There was approximately a participation of approx. 60-70 women. At the beginning of the workshop, a brief introduction was made on the topics that would be discussed. Once the Introduction was finished, Silveria proceeded with the presentation of the diseases (HIV and Syphilis). The subjects mentioned were: definition, symptoms, transmission, prevention, treatment and rights of the patient to have the SIS (Comprehensive Health Insurance). Because Silveria, our Shipibo nurse technician, made the presentation in Shipibo, the message got accross very well to mothers. The mothers showed a lot of interest throughout the workshop. We joyfully finalized with a game, so that women could participate and check how much they learned during the presentation. Teams were formed and questions were answered regarding the issue, rewarding with candy those who responded well. Cookies and juice were distributed throughout the workshop.

The next day, the HIV, Syphilis Campaign was held and the children were also given the chance to be tested for anemia. The laboratorian and the obstetrician arrived at 10:30 am and they were served breakfast. The Campaign started at 11 am. The rapid test of immediate result of HIV and syphilis was performed on people 12 years of age and older. Children 12 years old and younger were alone tested for anemia. They attended an unexpected 300 people plus, of which about 70 were children. The laboratory worker began working alone, but because of the number of people who attended the obstetrician and Oscar had to support him. There was no positive case of HIV or Syphilis and there was 20% anemia. The Campaign ended at 2pm with a lunch for promotoras and doctors.

Why is this work important? 

Through the bridging on free government health services, information, and community organizing, we are paving the way for communities to build those bridges themselves. They just need to know what services are available to them, how to ask for them, and to demand for their rights!

Links:

• Our video about the workshop/campaign described