Multilingual Health - Hygiene Education
Health and hygiene education is specifically directed toward improving basic health, hygiene and sanitary practices within the community.
- Children
All children in pre and primary school participate in weekly hygiene classes at the village schoolhouse. Classes include: personal hygiene and prevention, nutrition, applied biology lab on unseen bacteria, water analysis and chlorine testing, and how their daily actions effect their health and their environment in which that live. Indigenous ceremony, dance, and art expression is also a part of our programming with the children, to promote improved self-esteem and cultural revival.
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| (R to L) Rene and Mateo proudly display their artwork which focuses on brushing your teeth, washing your hands and unity of children. |
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HOTC created a multilingual health and hygiene art campaign with the children on the positive health benefits of drinking clean water, washing hands, brushing teeth, and disposing of organic and non organic trash. The campaign included painting "The Tree of Life" and words of "Thanks, Respect and Love" to water and to nature on the slow sand filter. This art campaign will be displayed throughout the school area of the village to reinforce positive health practices.
Our dental program is in partnership with the local medical post, and assists primary school children ages 5 - 12 with an opportunity to have their teeth repaired by the certified ministry dentist. The children brush their teeth each day as part of their daily hygiene practice routine put in place by their teachers. This program is a first of its kind in an indigenous community, and promotes preventative, integral hygiene practices for the children.
- Mothers
Bi-monthly applied health classes for mothers includes; improving their health and that of their families through daily personal hygiene, sanitation, nutrition, pre/post-natal care, medicinal plant medicines and the care of their homes. Classes also focus on self-esteem, and indigenous ceremony.
Health and hygiene programming has been created in partnership with a wide range of collaborators: Dr. Neptali Cueva, a tropical disease and indigenous health specialist with over 14 years experience in indigenous villages in Manu; Alberto Manquieriapa, Huacaria's shaman and herbal healer; two medical anthropologists specialists in Matsigenka health and culture; Dr. Glenn Shepard Jr., (National Institute of Amazonian Research (INPA) and Dr. Carolina Izquierdo, University of Southern California, Los Angeles (UCLA); and HOTC Health Director Maria Luisa Morales.
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Health Director Maria Luisa teaching
nutrition and hygiene to the mothers |
- Partnerships
HOTC continues with our successful working partnership with the Regional Health Ministry and the hospital of Pilcopata facilitating periodic, routine medical examinations including height, weight, blood work, parasite levels, hepatitis testing and oral hygiene/dental repair for all preschool and school aged children. These basic services serve to monitor the affects of the now improved water and sanitation conditions in the village.
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| Dr. Carolina Izquierdo onsite in Huacaria as HOTC conducts the base line tests of parasite and anemia levels in the community. HOTC works closely with Carolina to assure our health programming stay culturally appropriate. |
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Our bilingual educational programs promote good health habits, prevent disease, and improve social skills. Our programs are translated from Spanish to Matsigenka, Wachipaeri, and Quechua when ever possible. The village health promoter receives additional training from our health director and monitors the progress of the community.
Through HOTC's targeted indigenous health programming the children and families of Huacaria are truly being provided with real opportunities to strengthen their culture and health care while adapting to the social and environmental change now occurring.
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