At Awamaki Health aim to create programs that provide sustainable and improved health care within the Sacred Valley by using skills and energy of international volunteers. We provide an enriching experience to our volunteers that allow them to gain rural medical experience and exposure to a different culture. Our program allows volunteers to learn about health challenges in the developing world while empowering them to make a difference.

Mobile Health Clinic

This is the newest project committed to improving the well being of communities surrounding Ollantaytambo, Peru.  Awamaki Health is creating a mobile health unit that will serve remote, indigenous, isolated communities as quality medical care is difficult to access. Villagers often live 4-8 hours walk from the nearest government health clinic, can’t afford clinic services, or find clinics are under-equipped to serve them. Bronchial, gastrointestinal and dermatological afflictions that could easily be treated go untreated, for lack of access to care, mistrust of government-run clinics, or fear that the cost of care will be prohibitive. Additionally, women frequently do not seek prenatal care or care for their babies and children for the same reasons.  Awamaki’s mobile health unit will bring basic medicines and medical supplies to these villages, refer villagers to quality providers in more serious cases, and provide patient education.  In addition the mobile health unit will provide a chocolotada, which ensures a nutritious breakfast of porridge and bread for individuals waiting to receive medical treatment.

Promotora Campaign

In conjunction with the mobile health unit, Awamaki Health will implement a system of female health promoters, or Promotora, in these communities. The health Promotorasare chosen from Awamaki’s weaving cooperatives and other women’s groups in the communities. The mobile medical unit works with the Promotorato arrange medical visit days, public health workshops, and basic medical care to individuals residing in these regions. Awamaki will provide these Promotorawith community medical kits and education classes in the essentials of first aid, basic medicines, nutrition, sanitation, and overall health well being.

Clinical Placements

To promote better health, Awamaki works with 4 rural clinics to increase the quality of health care in the area. Awamaki works with these clinics to provide improved medical equipment, donations of medicines, and volunteer placements, inclusive of skilled medical professionals. Working in conjunction with clinical personnel Awamaki Health has also been able to assist with vaccination campaigns, fluoride campaigns, and home visits to the elderly to ensure the well being of community.

Chocolatada

Friday is the big children’s health (control) day at the clinic, when mothers travel down from the highland communities to have their babies’ and toddlers’ health assessed. These families may walk two or three hours early in the morning to make sure that their child is height- and weight-appropriate for his or her age and up-to-date with vaccinations. Children’s health is a significant priority both in national health care and cultural practices of child-raising, and we at Awamaki like to honors this commitment by preparing a warm breakfast of porridge and bread for Friday’s control patients. Many of them do not bring breakfast on their long walk to the clinic, and would otherwise have to purchase breakfast from itinerant Jello vendors. The Chocolatadais enjoyed by patients and volunteers alike, and is a small way to improve the atmosphere of the clinic on its busiest day of the week.

Disabilities Campaign

In 2011 Awamaki Health collaborated with an American neurologist, the Ollantaytambo municipality, and Quechua-Spanish translators, to conducted a disability outreach campaign in 13 communities around Ollantaytambo, interviewing and diagnosing individuals with disabilities. Some recurring problems of the individuals Awamaki visited were isolation and the inability of families to provide adequate care due to economic and social factors. As a result of the outreach campaign, Awamaki's volunteers are now involved with a home visit program for many of the individuals identified in the campaign, performing basic physical therapy and special education.

Volunteers from Awamaki Health primarily focus on these home visits, which vary according to the needs of the disabled individuals. Some individuals only require social visits, while others could benefit from having a wheelchair, special tutoring, operations, specialized medical equipment, and physical therapy. Awamaki Health focuses on assessing these needs, providing the appropriate services according to our skills and means, and connecting with additional local, national, and international services that can provide assistance in cases where we are unable to do so independently.

Public Health Education Classes

As a kick-start to a more comprehensive education program, Awamaki Health has been giving public health classes at the local community centre since March of 2010. Framed in songs and games,  lessons teach dental and personal hygiene, basic illness prevention, first aid, non-violent play, and other health-related topics to children ages six to twelve attending an after-school program

Fluoride Campaigns

Unlike water systems within America, Peru does not have fluoride within their water. It is well known that poor dental care can be the source of future medical problems. In an attempt to promote dental hygiene and overall personal health Awamaki volunteers work in conjunction with local clinics and schools providing regular fluoride treatments to children.

Medical Carpentry

The establishment of the disability campaign resulted in an obvious need to assist with adapting houses or medical equipment to the individual's specific needs.  Awamaki Health has had the opportunity to host several volunteers with carpentry background.  This has resulted in the creation of wheelchair ramps, bed rails, adaptive wheelchairs, mud bricks, new flooring within houses.  With this skill set Awamaki Health has been able to tailor individual projects to the specific needs of the patient.

Service Trips

As Awamaki Health continues to expand the health program our need for certified health professionals is increasing. The aforementioned opportunities are available to visiting health professionals and Awamaki Health is more than willing to customize a trip that compliments individual travel plans.   Additionally, Awamaki Health has hosted several service groups of nurses and pre-med students, and would welcome the opportunity to partner with universities or individuals seeking medical service trips. To further explore this opportunity please contact health@awamaki.org