CAF Medical Center Quito

CAF Medical Center Esmeraldas

Esmeraldas is known in Ecuador as the ¨Green Province¨; and is located at the Northwestern side of the Ecuadorian-Pacific Ocean. It has a surface of approximately 15,216 square Kilometers, and a population of about 385,223 inhabitants. Most of its economy is based on the exportation of shrimp and banana. At the eastern side of this province is easy to find farms that produce coco, tobacco and coffee. The Fishing Industry is important as well as the Chemical-Oil and Tourism industries. Esmeraldas has skilled artisans that work with materials such as Black Coral and Three Skin (Damahagua). Artisans from Esmeraldas design baskets made of straw wrap, and some musical instruments.
The main attraction of Esmeraldas with no doubt is the group of southern beaches where is also found the Cayapas-Mataje Natural Reserve. At the northern part of this province is found the Province-Capital city of: Esmeraldas-city. It was first settled a 21st of September, 1526; thus it constitutes one of the oldest cities in Ecuador and one of the most important ports in the Southern side of the Pacific Ocean. The city of Esmeraldas is the point where the transnational oil-pipeline finishes. This city also counts with a nice airport which offers local flights as well as connections to Cali, Colombia. The Province of Esmeraldas has its own ecologist attraction too: at the city of San Lorenzo is found the Mangrove swamp trees; which are known as the higher of its kind on Earth. Out of the five provinces that are in the region known as the Ecuadorian Coast; Esmeraldas is the one located at the northern extreme of such region. The territory of Esmeraldas is mostly flat, but in some occasions is easy to find small elevations of a maximum of 300 meters-high. There are some small elevations near by the towns of Atacames and Cojimies; which make the weather very varied. It can vary from tropical sub-humid to subtropical humid; or even from subtropical to very humid. The average temperature is 23 C degrees. Esmeraldas as a former Province of Ecuador counts with the following counties: Esmeraldas-city, Eloy Alfaro, Muisne, Quininde, San Lorenzo, Atacames and Rio Verde. The provincial capital city is: Esmeraldas-city. Other cities in order of importance will be mentioned at next: San Lorenzo, Atacames, Tonsupa, Sua, Same, Muisne and Quininde.
Unfortunately, this population has been affected with drug-dealing problems. That has increased to an alarming point the violence rate here. Drug-refining is part of this illegal process and involves locals to acts of illegal drug-supply contraband. This situation still has not been fully controlled by Ecuadorian authorities; this mostly owed to the complexity on keeping a track of where the next drug-defining lab will set up at.  This business has brought a supposed “wealth” to those involved on this activity. If this situation will not be controlled on a near future the results can potentially become dangerous for the inhabitants of Esmeraldas. It has been proved that where the drug-dealing business takes place; insecurity rules, prices tent to get higher and higher which eventually will affect the whole population.         
The chosen place for our mission this time; were the outside suburbs of Esmeraldas-city. Misery reigns over this zone. Here is not found the minimum sanitarian conditions. The Federal Government of Ecuador has not finished basic works such as: infrastructure, running water, lighting, sewer system, etc. Therefore, Charity Anywhere Foundation-Ecuador in association to the Municipal Government of Esmeraldas-city decided to create a Municipal Health Center in the zone called “the Valley of San Rafael”-25 min. away from Esmeraldas-city down town. On this facility was thought to offer Dental and Medical clinics for this depressed population. The actual neighborhood here is known as: “The Marginalized People”. This Municipal Health Center was designed start its activities as a  permanent clinic as soon as the Municipal Government of Esmeraldas-represented on its Major- would sign a Technical-Assistance Covenant with the Charity Anywhere Foundation. As soon this Mission went to its end, the inauguration of the Municipal Health Center took place and also the subscription of the Covenant between both Institutions.
This mission was leaded by Dr. Washington Zambrano O.S.; and the coordination at the city of Esmeraldas was done by Engineer Patricio Guzman. The participants were: Dr. Vargas (Family Physician/Epidemiologist), Dr. Polo (Family Physician/Intern Medicine), Dr. Isabel Zambrano (Dental Pediatrician), Engineer Julio Zambrano (Sterilization), Juan Zambrano (Pharmacy), Carlos Celin (Technician), and the North-American volunteer on Brennan Powel.    

• The medical clinic here acted this way:

Charity Anywhere Foundation was also able to donate 261 medical prescriptions; which individually had a minimum of 3 medicines each. Within the seventy eight Glucose test our volunteers did; our Physicians detected 8 suspicious patients of Diabetes. They all were immediately sent to a Laboratory where blood a urine tests will confirm or deny our previous diagnosis. There was a large amount of Hypertensive patients. Unfortunately, most of these patients do not have enough money to buy anti hypertensive medicine or even worse a descent Family Physician to evaluate this illness. Most of our donated prescriptions for adults were basically anti hypertensive medicine. In such case, our physicians immediately thought of teaching a program to these people; where they can help themselves to minimize the symptoms of having High Blood Pressure. They were taught of how to reduce the amount of lipids and carbohydrates in their meals; and also how to change in their lifestyle. They were told to include sports and physical activity in their everyday lives once they would start their daily medication. Prevention is the key for avoiding Medical Problems, but Teaching is another important part of reducing the risks of any social disease. With an organized and coordinated program; the Municipal Government can efficiently help assist the Federal Government of Ecuador in matters of Public Health too. We were able to find so much need in this area. Charity Anywhere can still make the difference there on matters of prevention, teaching, diagnosis, donations and infrastructure.

• The dental clinic here acted this way:

Wednesday, October 22nd, 2008

Thursday, October 23rd, 2008

Friday, October 24th, 2008

With a signed covenant between our organization and the Municipal Authorities from the city of Esmeraldas; Charity Anywhere Foundation s hoping to keep assisting to the poor and needy of this part of Ecuador. The Municipal Health Center will keep receiving Technical Assistance as well as donations from Charity Anywhere Foundation. In that way our covenant will be kept and other inhabitants of the “Los Marginados”-neighborhood in the “Valley of San Rafael”-Esmeraldas city will be benefited.

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