Frontline Story: Mission Along the Paraguay River

Source:

A team of volunteer health professionals from Barco Hospital in Paraguay implemented a public health project for ADRA the week of August 13-20.

A team of volunteer health professionals from Barco Hospital in Paraguay implemented a public health project for ADRA the week of August 13-20. They boarded a large boat on the Paraguay River and traveled north from Concepcion to the mouth of the Apa River. The boat provided living space, storage for supplies, and a mobile clinic facility for the project.

The team included four doctors, a dentist, four nurses, and five other health professionals as well as the boat crew and Patricia Muller, the country director for ADRA Paraguay. The project had several goals: (1) distribute medications to suppress parasites among the students in the public schools; (2) survey the basic health needs of the region; (3) provide basic hygiene and nutrition training to mothers with young children; and (4) conduct health promotion and prevention education in the schools.

ADRA Paraguay coordinated the project in collaboration with the Paraguayan Secretariat for National Emergencies and UNICEF.

The results of the week’s work were quite gratifying to all involved. A total of 7,474 individuals were reached during the week. Of these, 1,140 attended health classes; 1,288 came to medical clinics and another 176 were given dental care. A total of 4,870 children received the anti-parasite medications.

This project serves as a simple example of how ADRA works to bring together the needs of the poor with the expertise and infrastructure of the Adventist community, the goals of local government leadership, and the resources of international funding organizations. It is a powerful strategy!

Date published: December 11, 2006