Starting January 15th until January 20th, 2007
Report of activities
Our latest mission took place at the city of “El Cañar” which is located at the province of the same name. At this time we had to travel seven hours from Quito to reach our destination. Having Dr. Zambrano as the director of the hole mission; Dr.Vargas helped us as our Medical Coordinator and our Dental Coordinator was Dr Tapia. CAF has on Dr. Fausto Ortega its representative there in Cañar; and with Ms.Lucía Pacheco the representative of the Cañar health public department.
Volunteers on board:
Dr. Gloria Polo, family physician; Dr Xavier Alvear, Dentistry; RN Rocío Correa, Dr. Ricardo Padrón, Ginecologist; Dr. Edmundo Garate, family physician; Dr. Santiago Dominguez, Cardiology; Dr. María Cevallos, Dentistry; Mr. Víctor Madrid, Logistics and Sterilization; and 3 american volunteers on Ms. Ashley and Adam Burr, with Miss Chelsea Allred.
On the medical field; Pediatrics, Cardiology, Gynecology, and General Medicine was offered. Seven hundred patients were seen by our doctors; and 670 drug-prescriptions were given too. The main reasons found for illnesses were: chronic Pharingitis, Reumatic Arthritis pain, Bronchitis, Low back pain, Arthrosis, Inter costal Neuritis, Cardiatic problems, Rinitis, Alergic problems, Madness, Anger desease, Unknown cases of Vaginitis, Nutritional problems, Intestine Parasitosis, High Blood Preasure desease, Ovarie phseudo-tumors, Bacteria-Vagina Infections(Tricomoniasis).
On Dentistry 250 patients were seen on which 470 dental procedures were accomplished; including (180) Fillings, Exodotics (100), and Prophy cleanings (190). Three hundred Hygene kits were donated; besides 2 pairs of scrutches were given in addition of 2 walkers.
Brief overview of our agenda:
Monday, January 15th 2007.- the mission starts when the group took off from CAF Ec headquarters around 9am. pasing by the provinces of Cotopaxi, Tungurahua, and Chimborazo were we stoped to have lunch. Soon after it, we keept our journey heading on direction to our following and last stop: the province of “El Cañar”.
Tuesday, January 16th 2007.- after breakfast we started our work at the city´s goverment building where the “Social Action Dpt.” was also located at. This building was right on the middle of Cañar city´s downtown. Our portable dental chairs and our medical booths were very soon sat up for the convinience of all those patients that were already waiting for us.
Our schedule was starting at 8 am until 1 pm and then from 2 pm until 5 pm.
Wednesday, January 17th 2007.- our schedule for that day started the same time as the previous day.
Thursday, January 18th 2007.- all started by 8 am. until 2 pm. when we left to the city of Cuenca, which is located near by. Cuenca is famous for its great architecture and touristic atractions; therefore we had a very enjoyable time there.
Friday, January 19th 2007.- during this day our group did its work at the city of Ingapirca, which was 45 min away from the city of “El Cañar”. Once there, we worked from 8 am until 2 pm. Soon after we had the chance to visit the actual archeological site of Ingapirca, which on the native language means “The Inca´s Mural”.
Saturday, January 20th 2007.- by 7:30 am. our group headed out back to Quito arriving by 2 pm.at the capital city of Ecuador.

The volunteers of CAF took off to another mission on coordination with the Sister missioneries from Welfare Department of the Quito, Ecuador mission. The hole group left from the “House of Good” located at the north part of Quito. Our mission Director  was Dr. Zambrano, Dr. Vargas our Medical Coordinator, Dr. Isabel Zambrano our Dental Coordinator, and Eng. Julio Zambrano as our Constructing Coordinator.
Participants
Dental department.- Dr. Tapia, Dr. Arias, Juan Pablo del Valle, Patricia Alvear.
Dental Lab.- Dental technitians Carlos Tipanluisa and Xavier Fonte.
Medical department.- Dr. Gloria Polo, Register nurses Maxfield, Wallace, and Smith.
Pharmacy.- Juan F.Zambrano.
Partners of America.- Jenny Loveridge, Kelsie Duncan, Lindsey Hanuey, Lindsey Grimes, Francis Larry DDS, Julie Francis RDH, Amanda Talbot.
Overview of our Work in Esmeraldas
Thursday 15th of March 2007 .- this project started at 8 until 5 pm at the area of “La Tolita”, Esmeraldas. Our three deparments had work to do, medical, dental as well as construction. It was given 52 pairs of glases, 100 pieces of clothes, 70 hygine kits and 200 bags of cookies. During this day 182 medical prescriptions were given by the pharmacy, therefore this amount also represents the total of patients seen by our doctors.
Friday 16th of March 2007 .- we left from the city of Atacames in direction to the rural area of “El Recreo”, which was four hours away from “La Tolita”. The project started at 10 am and it went until 5 pm. Medicine, Dentistry and Constructions were offered that day there too. A total of 95 people were given anti-parasite medicine, 100 pieces of clothes were donated as well as 700 hygine kits and 200 bags of cookies. During this day 178 medical prescriptions were given by the pharmacy, therefore this amount also represents the total of patients seen by our doctors.
 Saturday 17th of March 2007 .- this project started at 8 am until 2 pm. and once again Medicine, Dentistry and Contruccions were offered  during this city too. It was given 100 pieces of clothes, 200 bags of cookies, and 60 kits of Hygine. During this day 124 medical prescriptions were given by the pharmacy therefore this amount also represents the total of patients seen by our doctors.
 We headed out back to Quito by 3 pm.
Monday 19th of March 2007 .- we left from Quito by 8 am on direction to Otavalo. We went there with the objective of teaching discussions related to Pregnancy, Prevention and Dental Hygine. We visited a place called “The Youth Center of Otavalo”, which had great facilities for us to share our presentations.
Dr. Olga Farinango who was our local coordinator there in Otavalo works at the public Health department We gave up 185 tothbrushes, plenty of baby clothes and Infant formulas, toys and  6 dental dentures. Dr. Farinango joined us that day and we accomplished our day-mission very well there in Otavalo.

REPORT OF ACTIVITIES FROM THE CONSTRUCTION DEPARTMENT
ESMERALDAS MISSION

Project  this time our job consisted on obteining and arming a house first built by the organization “Home of Christ”, which also works here in Ecuador.
The day March 9th 2007, we comunicated with the foundation “Home of Christ”, which headquarters is located at the city of Guayaquil. We spoke with Ms. Dennise Aviles at the phone number 011/593/04/295155 & to the web www.hogardecristo.org.ec . After telling her the posibility of working along with CAF/EC, we got a good discount on the regular prize that organization sells houses of 4,80 mts wide by 4,90 mts. long made of wood and walls of caine. We had to collect information of the new propertary for this house, which included his ID number, papers of ownership of the piece of land where we were going to build the house, etc. After following all of these prescripted law-steps we finally started the construction of the house the day thrursday 15th of March 2007 by noon. By friday, we had extra help coming from 4 LDS. missionaries for a total of 5 hours, which made our team of 6 individuals. We accomplished that day the followings

• Getting the land notirized byt the owner.
• Stucking at ground level 9 columns.
• Putting together 6 “sleepies”
• Putting together of 14 boards of wood for the floor
• Making up the floor with 50 boards and then nailing them down.

The day saturday, March 17th 2007 having 5 participants we proceed to put the already armed roof with its own slope, and nailing down the pieces of metal zinc-sheeds for the roof. We also put “Maderol”, which is chemical used on wood to protected it from any plague like ants, etc.

REPORT OF THE DENTAL ACTIVITIES DURING THE ESMERALDAS MISSION
            On Dental work we had a lot that thursday 15th of March 2007 when 150 patients were taken care of with whom 211 procedures were done including 70 Prophy cleanings, 100 Fillings, 41 Exodontias (pulling out tooth) and 69 patients received Fluoride treatments. The Dental Lab made 11 dental dentures.
During Friday 16th of March 2007 117 patients were taken care of with whom 162 procedures were done including 57 Ultrasonic Cleanings, 53 Fillings, and 52 Exodontias. 43 patientspatients received Fluoride tratments. The Dental Lab made 6 dental dentures for poor people there.
During Saturday 17th of March 2007 67 patients were taken care of with whom 104 procedures were done including 35 Ultrasonic Cleanings, 47 Fillings, and 22 Exodontias. 30 patients received Fluoride tratments. The Dental Lab did 3 dental dentures that time.

REPORT OF THE MEDICAL ACTIVITIES DURING THE ESMERALDAS MISSION

With a lot of optimism and having on mind out motto “Be good being good” we headed out to the ecuadorian coast. To be specific, we went to the province of Esmeraldas which is a very affected region of our nation. The cities given medical help this time were  Esmeraldas, Zapallo and Quininde. We left hoping somewhow our efforts would partially aleave the need of help down there. Abandone and careless by previous goverment administrations have caused a lot of health problems. This statistic report shows the number of patients seen on a direct relationship to the areas visited, the age groups seen and the gender of our patients. The majority of them were females on reproductive age with a 22, 3%. At the other hand children under a year were the smaller group of patients seen by us with a 4.5 % from the total of our medical consults. As far as often patologies found on direct relationship to age groups we should mention that babies under a year of age had often respiratory problems such as nasal congestion, sore throat, runny nose, sneezing, headache, minor aches or pains related to fever. Babies with these medical illnesses make up a total of 46% of all the patologies found this time. Skin problems were found with a high insidense of a 34% of the total of patologies found. It should be mention too that part of the population o had medical deseases of clinical importance such as Hemangiomy (advance blood tumoration). At the other hand, it was a good thing to see the that majority of inhabitants of Esmeraldas on rural areas still  breastfeed their babies, which allows them to be resistant to comun illnesses of that particular group of age. Although,  within the age group of one year olds up to five year olds, we saw malnutrition cases on a 23 %, which coincidently enough is when these children stop breastfeeding from their mothers. Unfortunately malnutrition was followed by intestinal Parasitosis on a bigger kids on a 47% of them. Within the group of 6 to 15 year olds it was found Marasmatic Malnutrition showed by very low weight and height for thar age. Nowadays this particular desease has a high insidence with a 54 % of young ecuadorian folks suffering of it. Intestinal Parasitosis always joins Malnutrition. According to our numbers a 48% of our malnutrition patients also had Parasitosis or Anemia too on a 31% of them. People between 16 up 45 years old fairly often ask about Anemia related problems. High Blood Preasure problems  were also so much found and this issue is really concerning to us, because the risk factors of H.B.P. problems easily go above the stimate limits. If we add up the high costs of medicines and the lack of coincidence of those sick against to the involved risks of this particular patology|sickness.  It was also found several cases of Urinary deseases on a 12% of all our patients seen, but particulartly  between women. A lot of pregnant women came for pregnancy control to us on a total of 13 of them, which makes up to a 2.7% of our total of patients. Women of Esmeraldas often suffered of abnormal uterine bleeding to what it means a heavy menstrual bleeding. A hormonal imbalance during adolescence or menopause is the most common cause of heavy menstrual bleeding. Uterine fibroid tumors are another very common cause of excessive menstruation. It’s important to understand that fibroid tumors are usually benign (non-cancerous) tumors that often occur in the uterus of women during their thirties or forties. While the origen of these causes of uterine fibroid tumors still were unclear to us, it is clear that they weree estrogen-dependent. It was taught to our patients that several surgical treatments are now available for treating fibroid tumors of the uterus including myomectomy, endometrial ablation, uterine artery embalization, and uterine balloon therapy, as well as hysterectomy. Non-surgical pharmacological treatments for fibroid tumors such as GnRH agonists, oral contraceptives, androgens, RU486 (the abortion pill), and gestrinone were also mention to inform and update them . It was also very often to found patients suffering of the P.I.E.( Pelvic Inflamatory Desease) thanks to cervical polyps.Cervical polyps are small, fragile growths that begin in either the mucosal surface of the cervix, or the endocervical canal and protrude through the opening of the cervix. The cause of cervical polyps is not clear; however, they are often the result of an infection and many times associated with an abnormal response to increased estrogen levels or congestion of the blood vessels located in the cervix. Women most commonly affected by cervical polyps are those over the age of twenty who have had children. A simple out patient office procedure that removes the growth, along with antibiotics, is the usual treatment for cervical polyps. The first cause for men to be seen by our doctors was lowback aiches (lumbalgy) 63%, and dispepsis 28%. It was interesting for us to see a large number of patients on a 18% coming only  to see and find out whether they had or not Osteo Arthritis. Thankgoodness we had all the necessary medicine to help this patients eventhough they are really expensive. On the group of 45 up to 60 year olds, Osteoporosis was found on a 27% and low back problems on a 46%. People over 61 years had generaly Reumatic or Arthritic related  problems. As an overview we can finish saying that all of these deseases found on this region can be controled with education  and prevention that teach ecuadorians better living habits and the importance of a balanced nutrition.

SPECIAL THANKS TO
Those laboratories that donated us medicines for this particular trip. Those laboratories were

• ROEMMERS
• GUTIS
• ADISA

And also a special thanks to our Partners of America, Globus Relief Foundation, Swanson Foundation and the Humanitarian Center of the L.D.S. church.  Thank you all in deed!

Reported by
Engeneers        Julio Zambrano    and    Patricio Guzman

REPORT OF LOGISTICS

MISION: ESMERALDAS-QUININDE  FROM: (March 14th until March 17th, 2007)

FRIDAY,  March 9th

• Visitation to the main offices of “Home of Christ” to confirm parameters of purchising for the house: price, way to pay, documentation, and layounts.
• Sending of house-layounts to Quito.
• Obtaining of estimate prices for hotel services and restaurant there in Quininde.
• Confirmation of prices for Elicio’s hotel in Atacames.

MONDAY,  March 12th

• Trip to Quininde to get to know hotels and restaurants. It was decided to hire the restaurant “The Bejuco” and the hotel “Sans”
• Get to contact an Lds. bishop to get to program the delivery of the house. Reception of documents from the beneficiary of our donated house.

TUESDAY,  March 13th

• Paying at the city of Esmeraldas the price of the house.
• Hireing of the vehicle that will tranport the des-armed house up to Quininde.

WEDNESDAY,  March 14th

• Reception of the group coming from Quito. Logistics-confirmation for the following days.

THURSDAY,  March 15th

• Picking up of the des-armed house from the warehouse of “Hogar de Cristo” foundation.
• Transporting the house until Quininde.
• Delivering of each part of the house to the beneficiary of our donated house.
• Return to the house.

FRIDAY,  March 16th

• We left to Quininde.
• Once there, we helped build the house along with some american volunteers and the person benifited by the new house.

SATURDAY, March 17th

• Concluding of the construction and delivery to its provisional beneficiary.

MONDAY, March 19th

Solicitude of ownership paperwork from the beneficiary to us to make sure all is on rule. At the end of this moth all of these paperwork will be remitted to Quito on a package sent via regular mail.