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| International YMCA Doctors |
Greetings from Machala!
We have been working for 10 days now, and to date we have intervened in 5 communities in the district of Machala: Brisas del Mar, Los Rosales, Nueva Esperanza, Rayito de Luz and are currently working in the sector 18 de Octubre.
As of Saturday, April 19, we have attended to 229 children and 183 adults. The main sicknesses for children are : respiratory, dermatological, nutritional and parasitical, these last two being the most common. For adults, the majority have been urinary tract and gynecological infections.
Let me add that along with assisted aid, we are also giving health education
to mothers, who come for a consultation with their children, in order to prevent future illnesses.
Although the work is arduous, we are very content with what we are doing and are highly motivated now that Andrés Figueroa, a doctor from our YMCA, has joined the team. This will allow us to serve a larger number of children.
We leave you with a warm hug (40 degrees celsius) and hope to continue giving updates about our friends in Puerto Viejo.
Marita (Doctor), Marina (Health educator), and Nicolás (Obstetrician)
Medical Team from YMCA Peru
Medical doctors from the Peru, Uruguay and Brazil YMCA arrived this week in Ecuador to assist the population in the areas affected by strong floods in impoverished neighbourhoods in Machala, in the South of Ecuador, and Portoviejo, both in the Coast.
Doctors María del Carmen Meza, Marina Herrera y Nicolas Quiroz, are now in Machala with YMCA staff Eliana Apolo, and Cesar Valverde, national youth promoter. As they visit the neighbourhoods, they have seen the huge task of assisting children from the Child Care Program carried out by the YMCA. They are also assisting families that face health problems, especially with the high water level.
The Uruguayan doctors María Lilia Rivas and María Laura Fernández, now join the Brasilian doctor Bourdeni Tarcisio, "Ney" in Portoviejo. In a report by the YMCA Portoviejo Director, he indicated that the doctors have had a meeting with the Health Department where the main diseases were explained, as well as procedures.
Ney, who is now much like a fish in water, has started working with Ecuador staff from the Chile Care program, since most of the work will be carried out with children. Ney now speaks a bit of Spanish and the Portoviejo staff also understands his portuñol.
In Portoviejo the brigade begins today, in two communities in the outskirts of the city. Mario says: "With the grace of God, solidarity and positive energy from sister YMCA's, we believe this campaign will be successful and it will help alleviate the suffering from many impoverished families. We feel the warmth of these volunteers that together with colleagues from Portoviejo YMCA, will be able to reach positive results and gratifying experiences. We are happy with the experience of solidarity and exchange.
Patricia Sarzosa, Director of Ecuador YMCA, expressed her joy at receiving the brigade members in Machala and Portoviejo. She indicated that the funds received for the emergency from national movements through the World Alliance of YMCAs, will be used to buy medicine for Machala and Portoviejo families. Latin American sisterhood is highlighted through these concrete and human actions.
The actions carried out by the health brigade complement the emergency activities carried out by our members in Machala and Portoviejo. This has included distribution of food, water, fumigation bombs, alcohol, etc.
It is really gratifying to see how local and national solidarity is complemented by international solidarity.
To pledge your support to YMCA Ecuador’s relief work, contact Simon Pluess at the World Alliance of YMCAs on simon(at)ymca.int or (0041) 22 849 5111.
Médicos de las ACJs de Perú, Uruguay y Brasil llegaron esta semana a Ecuador para atender a la población en los sectores afectados por las fuertes inundaciones en los barrios populares de Machala, al sur del país, y Portoviejo, ambos en la Costa.
María del Carmen Meza, Marina Herrera y Nicolas Quiroz, se encuentran en Machala junto con Eliana Apolo, responsable de ACJ en dicha ciudad y Cesar Valverde, promotor juvenil nacional. En sus recorridos por barrios de los sectores más empobrecidos de la ciudad, han encontrado una tarea muy grande para atender a niños y niñas de los programas de niñez que desarrolla la ACJ. También están atendiendo a las familias que enfrentan problemas de salud, luego de que ha bajado el nivel del agua.
Las médicas uruguayas, María Lilia Rivas y María Laura Fernández, se unen al medico brasileño Bourdeni Tarcisio, "Ney" en Portoviejo. En un informe del Director de ACJ en Portoviejo, indicó que han mantenido una primera reunión con la responsable de la Dirección de Salud del área de Portoviejo, quien explicó las principales enfermedades que encontrarían y los procedimientos que se realizan.
Ney, quien ya está aclimatado, ha visitado y acompañado a las compañeras del equipo técnico del programa de niñez, en el cual se centrará la atención de la brigada. Habla ya un poquito más de español y en Portoviejo también el equipo lo entiende más con su portuñol.
En Portoviejo se inicia hoy día la brigada, en dos comunidades en las afueras de Portoviejo. Dice Mario: "Con la gracia de Dios, la solidaridad y las buenas energías de las ACJs hermanas de América, creemos que esta campaña será exitosa, que lograremos aliviar el sufrimiento de muchas familias empobrecidas y vulnerables. Se siente la calidez de las y los voluntarios médicos que unido a los compañeros y compañeras del equipo de la ACJ Portoviejo, lograremos hacer de esta experiencia gratificante para todos y con resultados positivos. Estamos alegres con esta experiencia de solidaridad e intercambio.
Por su lado, Patricia Sarzosa, Directora de ACJ Ecuador, manifestó su alegría por la presencia de los y las brigadistas en Machala y Portoviejo. Indicó que con los fondos recibidos para la emergencia desde los varios movimientos a través de la Alianza Mundial de ACJs, se adquieren los medicamentos tanto para Machala como para Portoviejo. La hermandad latinoamericana, dijo, es digno de resaltar, con estas acciones concretas y tan humanas.
Las acciones de salud que llevan adelante los médicos brigadistas son un complemento a las actividades de emergencia que han realizado desde un principio las compañeras educadoras en Machala y Portoviejo. Esto ha incluido distribución de alimentos, agua, primeros auxilios, alcohol, algodón, bombas para fumigar contra los mosquitos, entre otros.
Es gratificante ver como la solidaridad de las comunidades y población local y nacional ahora se ve complementada con la mano solidaria de los y las médicas que han llegado a Ecuador.
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The YMCA in Machala, Ecuador, is facing an emergency. Strong floods in the region have caused great damage to the child care centres where we work with children under 5. 14 people have died and more than 3 million have been affected by the floods in 14 provinces. According to President Rafael Correa, the estimated cost of the damage is about USD200 million.
Ms. Rosa González, who is living in a shelter, says “The winter (rains) destroyed our plans and our future. Thank God we’re alive. But due to the heavy rain in the last few days, my life is not the same anymore.” Crops, roads and many houses have been destroyed.
The government is co-ordinating the emergency response with the Civil Defense, the Red Cross and foreign aid. Community organizations are providing immediate relief efforts.
YMCA’s Emergency Response
In Machala city in the South of Ecuador, our Coordinator Eliana Apolo has given us an update and reports on the needs they have found while carrying out emergency work. The team has been working closely with the affected community in the neighbourhoods where the YMCA carries out Child Care Programmes for children under 5 years old.
Our objective is to deliver immediate relief to the most needy families in the communities where we are running Child Development Programmes.
The main problems are the lack of food, medicine, mosquito nets and insecticide because the number of mosquitoes bringing diseases increases after flooding. We also need to provide boots for our community coordinators so that they can continue moving from neighbourhood to neighbourhood. The total amount needed to provide this support is 16,736 USD. Contributions already made from Colombia and Ecuador YMCAs mean the balance still needed is 15,200 USD.
500 families and their children from 10 neighbourhoods will benefit from the emergency support.
The second stage will be the reconstruction of the community centres where we carry out our children’s programs.
We thank you for all your support.
Patricia Sarzosa
Executive Director
Helga Serrano
International Relations
Get to Know the YMCA of Ecuador
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