Health
Up ] Introduction ] History ] Transport ] Energy - Food ] Education ] Water - Sanitation ] UNESCO ] April 2004 ] Extension and Developments. ] [ Health ] Religion ] Forest schools ] Forest Schools 2 ] Forest Schools 3 ] Global Forest Schools ]

 


Infant mortality within the municipality is 48:1000 live births.  Of the 62 municipalities in Amazonas, only two other municipalities have higher infant mortality statistics. The main public health base for the region remains the local state hospital in the nearby town, which has about 152 employees.  Depending on the political influence at the time, there can be 4- 6 general doctors, often employed cheaper from peru and Bolivia without relevant professional documents to practice.

The  Health Agents program was implanted in March 1999, for which the Municipality receives a financial incentive from the Federal governor.  About 50% of  health agents are employed by the municipalities secretary of health (temporary), and 50% are employed by the State (permanent).

There is one health agent in the river community village, who deals with all health matters from his home, as there is no health post. The most common infections being: intestinal, respiratory, worms, amoebic dysentery, diarrhoea and dehydration, malnutrition, flu, anaemia, gastritis, hansens disease, tuberculosis, dengue, sexually transmitted diseases, leishmaniasis. They depend on who is directing the health agents in the local town, as to whether the local health agent receives materials and medicines for wound care etc. Urgent surgery cases must  be transferred to the capital, this can be a life or death situation depending on whether the family has money for transport to the City.  It takes about 3 hours by foot to reach the town hospital from the community, Many who suffer, prefer to stay where they are and wait for “the divine” rather than carry out this difficult journey. There are three health bodies, the national foundation of health who carry out prevention and treatment of malaria. They have fluvial and road transport. Working material is donated by the ministry of health.

The national plan which attends the local health needs including vaccination programmes for children and pregnant mothers, milk programmes for the malnourished, diabetic and hypertension programmes, control of tuberculosis and recently sexually transmitted diseases, and the world health organisation who send medicine for the prevention and control of Hansens disease. 

Depending on the mayors distribution of finances, a boat trip is made yearly to the regions local communities to carry out vaccination programmes, ie: BCG to prevent tuberculosis and dog and cat rabies vaccination programmes.

 

 

Affiliated to
"A Ray of Hope UNESCO
Youth Ambassador for the Culture of Peace
"