Amazon hope project information pack 2014
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Transcript of Amazon hope project information pack 2014
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Vine Trust Amazon Hope
Medical & Dental Project
Information Pack
2014
The Vine Trust is a volunteering charity with a vision to see communities transformed. Our volunteers work to bring opportunity, health and hope to disadvantaged communities and marginalised people, with a particular concern for vulnerable children.
In 2001, an ex Royal Navy Fleet tender was sent by the Vine Trust to assist in the
development of relief work amongst the marginalised communities in the Peruvian Amazon. Since that initial journey much has been achieved to the extent that our project is now at the heart of an initiative to deliver a basic health service for up to 100,000
people in rural Amazonia. Health education, training local workers, providing access for government anti-malarial teams and providing clean water and sanitation are all part of our strategy.
Many of the remote communities in the Amazon have little or no access to healthcare provision. This results in high infant mortality rates and debilitating diseases in the
community, many of which can be easily treated by modern medicine. Medicines we take for granted, such as antibiotics, analgesics and anti-malarials, can make a massive difference to the health of the population. The services of a dentist also make an
extremely significant impact in alleviating chronic pain and building better health. Medical teams go out to work on the Amazon Hope 1 and 2 medical ships throughout the
year. The ships act as floating health centres providing basic health and dental care to the people of rural communities on the Amazon and its tributaries. Each trip lasts two weeks; the team usually spends about nine days working on one of the ships assisting the
project’s Peruvian medical personnel. We send teams to the project every two weeks from throughout the UK and beyond. Medical and dental teams are made up of 6-8 people. Normally each team consists of at least two doctors and one or two dentists, the balance
of the team being made up of other health professionals. This work in Peru is carried out in partnership with Scripture Union (SU) Peru (Unión Bíblica Perú).
The Project works closely with the Peruvian Ministry of Health, who provide malaria and immunisation teams on various trips. Currently we serve 160 river communities which we aim to grow to nearer 200 in the next 18 months. Our aim is to provide quarterly visits to
communities on the Tigre, Nanay, Ampiyacu, Maranon and other rivers which will impact on chronic illnesses such as asthma, diabetes, epilepsy and on dental health. In addition, we will be able to identify those in need of secondary care, such as cataract surgery and
hernia repair, and either arrange for this work to be carried out in the small operating theatre of one of our medical ships, or at the District hospital in Iquitos.
The Vine Trust aims to encourage UK health professionals to use their skills and part of their annual leave to help the poor of this Amazonian region.
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Clinical work After arriving on the Amazon Hope there will be time to settle in, meet the crew and just enjoy sailing on the Amazon, before any clinical work starts.
Medical work Much of the work is Primary Health Care, with some minor trauma. However, anything
could present as these people have nothing, so be prepared. You will be issued with ‘Guidance Notes for Medical Teams’ once your place on the team has been confirmed. The pharmacy is stocked with routine antibiotics, analgesics, NSAID’s, preps for eye
/ear infections, PPI’s., some dermatological preps. and dressings and there is some suture material. The formulary is included in the ‘Guidance Notes’.
Dental work Equipped with a dental surgery, the main work provides a basic filling and extraction service. Dentists who have been before are happy to discuss the work with any dentist
interested in going. Please ask for contact details.
Ministry of Health There has been an agreement signed between SU Peru and Ministry of Health to
coordinate the work and allow overseas professionals to take part. It is advised by the
Vine Trust that professionals inform their Defence Body of the nature of this work and ask for suitable cover. (The MDDUS in Scotland has agreed to cover its members in the
UK teams so far, free of any extra charge, but each member has to contact them
individually).
Please note that proof of your current registration with the appropriate professional body is also required, and we ask for a photocopy (or scan) of that document along with your application.
SU Peru Staff The Head of Medical Services for the Amazon Hope Project oversees all aspects of the
health side of the project and strives to ensure a meaningful experience for visiting health professionals as they participate in the project.
There are medical and dental professionals employed by Unión Bíblica (SU Peru) who work on the Amazon Hope ships. The salaries of all the staff are underwritten by the Vine Trust.
Life on Board Amazon Hope On board, there is a Peruvian doctor, dentist, nurse and pharmacist, and occasionally a midwife and lab technicians for malaria testing, all of whom are very helpful. There is also
the Captain, pilot, translators, a children’s worker, caretaker and chef. The ship is usually busy with as many as 30 people living on board! Everyone is very friendly and welcoming. Catering is very good, with lots of chicken, fish and rice.
Accommodation on board is in air conditioned, shared cabins. The air conditioning makes it very difficult for the insects to fly. However it is advisable to have a mosquito net on the
off chance that the air con breaks down. The Amazon Hope Medical & Dental Project is a flagship project of The Vine Trust. The
work in Peru is carried out in partnership with Scripture Union Peru. There will be optional devotional times each day (usually before breakfast, to which everyone is invited), as well as Outreach to the communities we visit (by SU Peru staff). An applicant does not need to
be a Christian to be accepted. However, we do ask that you support the humanitarian work we are undertaking and agree to abide by the Code of Contact (part of the application process).
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Medical & Dental Trips - 2014 Schedule
Trip Reference
Trip Name
Arrive Lima
Depart Lima
Notes:
PM14011 Jan (1) 10-Jan 24-Jan
1) Medical teams are made up of 6-8 people (consisting of at least two doctors and one
or two dentists; the balance of the team being made up of other health
professionals.
2) All trips, with the exception
of Apr(1), Jul(1) and Oct(1) arrive in Lima on a Friday. (Day 1, in the table below).
3) Apr(1), Jul(1) and Oct(1)
trips arrive in Lima on a
Thursday. 4) After ALL trips, depart from
Lima on a Friday.
PM14021 Feb (1) 24-Jan 7-Feb
PM14022 Feb (2) 7-Feb 21-Feb
PM14031 Mar (1) 28-Feb 14-Mar
PM14032 Mar (2) 14-Mar 28-Mar
PM14041 Apr (1) 27-Mar 11-Apr
PM14042 Apr (2) 18-Apr 2-May
PM14051 May (1) 2-May 16-May
PM14052 May (2) 16-May 30-May
PM14061 Jun (1) 6-Jun 20-Jun
PM14062 Jun (2) 20-Jun 4-Jul
PM14071 Jul (1) 3-Jul 18-Jul
PM14081 Aug (1) 1-Aug 15-Aug
PM14082 Aug (2) 8-Aug 22-Aug
PM14091 Sep (1) 29-Aug 12-Sep
PM14092 Sep (2) 19-Sep 3-Oct
PM14101 Oct (1) 2-Oct 17-Oct
PM14111 Nov (1) 24-Oct 7-Nov
PM14112 Nov (2) 7-Nov 21-Nov
Draft Itinerary (This is provided as an example only.)
Day No Day of Week Activity
1 Friday (Leave UK in the morning) Arrive in Lima later same day. Some people may choose to arrive earlier (tourist activities).
The team will gather and stay in a Lima hotel overnight. (Name & address of hotel will be advised).
2 & 3 Saturday &
Sunday
Fly to Iquitos on Saturday morning. There will be the
opportunity to visit some other Vine Trust projects in and around Iquitos and to have a team meeting (with Peruvian medical staff).
4 Monday Travel onto Ship.
13 Wednesday Leave Ship and travel back to Iquitos (Stay overnight in
Iquitos).
14 Thursday Fly back to Lima. We would anticipate arrival back in Lima by
early / mid afternoon. In some cases this would allow people to start their journey home or to start any tourist activities arranged. Otherwise stay overnight in Lima.
15 Friday Leave Lima – travel home or start tourist activities.
16 Saturday Arrive in the UK
NOTE: Apr(1), Jul(1) and Oct(1) trips are slightly different: arrive in Lima on day 1 (Thursday), fly to Iquitos on day 2 and travel onto ship on day 3. These trips leave the ship 11 days later (Wednesday). Thereafter, itinerary is the same as above.
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Cost The cost of a trip in 2014 will be £950 plus the cost of international flights (Vine Trust
will book international flights to your specification – when your place on a trip has been confirmed, we will contact you to arrange flights).
Included in the £950 are: Taxi Pickup at Lima (if you arrive on Day 1). Hotel accommodation in Lima (Day 1 & 14).
Travel Insurance. Internal flight (Lima to Iquitos). Accommodation in Iquitos and trips to see other VT Projects.
Travel from Iquitos onto Amazon Hope. Food and Accommodation on the Ship. A contribution to the Medical and Dental Project.
Excluded from this cost are:
Required vaccinations and personal medicines.
As a result of the increased cost of internal flights within Peru (Lima to Iquitos) and the
drop in the exchange rate from GBP (£) to PEN (Peruvian Soles), we have unfortunately had to increase the cost of our trips.
The cost of our trips reviewed in light of changing air fares and exchange rates. However, the above price will be FIXED for all trips in 2014 booked before 30th June 2014.
Payment Schedule
A deposit of £250 is required on application (to reserve your place). The balance of £700 should be paid 3 months before departure. International flights should be paid when booked by Vine Trust.
Gift Aid As a charity we can claim tax relief on the funds that you send us if you are a UK taxpayer (A Gift Aid Declaration form is contained in the application form). The amount that
we ask for towards Trip Costs covers your participation on the trip and we use the Gift Aid reclaimed to further the work of the Vine Trust’s projects.
Where possible please encourage anyone who is contributing to your trip financially to give under the Gift Aid scheme.
Fundraising
We would encourage team members to try and raise additional funds for the Medical and Dental Project. This money will be used for medical equipment, drugs and to keep the ships operational.
It is anticipated that in most cases, the cost of the trip will be borne by the volunteer. However it is recognised that in some cases, fundraising will be used to cover part of the
cost / flights of your trip. Please make it very clear to all donors the purpose of your fundraising i.e. for the ongoing work of the project or for your personal trip expenses.
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Peru Locations Map
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Peru: Safety Information
We are very grateful for your support and willingness to be part of a Vine Trust trip to Peru. To
ensure you have a safe and enjoyable trip we ask all our volunteers to familiarize themselves
with this safety information sheet so that you are aware of the potential hazards and dangers
you may encounter in Peru.
Peru has a different safety culture compared to that in the UK; precautions we take for granted
are not necessarily in place. For example, standards of food hygiene and health care are lower
and there are risks from dangerous creatures and tropical diseases.
You may want to bring this document with you when you travel to Peru.
1. FLIGHT TO LIMA
Risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is now well established and the following precautions
are recommended:
Wear flight socks.
Drink plenty of water on the flight. Coffee, tea and alcohol cause dehydration so drink a
pint of water or fruit juice every three hours
If you have a past history of DVT you should consult your GP for further advice.
Walk about the plane regularly to exercise calf muscles.
Exercise your calf muscles whilst in your seat.
The use of aspirin is a matter for discussion with your own GP, as taking aspirin is not
risk free.
2. TRANSPORT IN PERU
The transport you will use in Peru is basic and considered reasonably safe. However, you
should be aware of heightened risks, namely:
Many vehicles do not have seatbelts
Many vehicles are over twenty years old and some are dilapidated
Road accidents occur more frequently
Road surfaces are often poor
Road side protection is often rudimentary; crash barriers are not universal
Driving standards are lower than in the UK
Rickshaws are very open with little passenger protection
3. HYGIENE
Where possible, always wash hands thoroughly but take anti-bacterial hand wipes or
alcohol hand gel as an extra precaution. Standards of cleanliness in restaurants are lower
than in the UK. As a general rule of thumb:
Drink bottled water
Eat in SU Peru’s approved restaurants or hotels or take lunches provided by SU Peru.
It is sensible to wipe cutlery clean in restaurants before eating
It is not advisable to eat food from street vendors
Pork should never be eaten in Peru as there is a parasite which causes brain damage
Salad should not be eaten due to the risk of food poisoning
Ice should not be used in drinks due to the increased risk of food poisoning.
Water borne disease can cause illness such as: Gastroenteritis, Hepatitis A, Typhoid,
Hepatitis E,cholera, E Coli, amoebic dysentery, giardiasis, intestinal parasites
(worms), Leptospirosis.
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4. INSECT BORNE DISEASE
Insect borne disease is a risk, especially in Amazonia:
Dengue fever is prevalent in the Iquitos area and on the rivers.
Malaria is a constant risk, prophylaxis is essential, as are insect repellents.
Yellow Fever -- make sure vaccination up to date.
Sand Fly Bite -- Leishmaniasis.
5. DANGEROUS ANIMALS (low likelihood hazards with high harm potential!)
Snakes: Snakes are to be found in Amazonia and other parts of Peru. The likelihood of a
snake bite is very low but the harm is potentially fatal. However, a few careful
precautions reduce the likelihood significantly. To avoid snake bites it is sensible to
check your sleeping bag at night and make sure your bedding is tightly tucked into
your mosquito net. Always check that shoes are empty too!
Scorpions: Bites can be very painful. Again, a few careful precautions reduce the likelihood
of scorpion bites. Always check that shoes etc are free of unwelcome guests before
putting them on.
Bats: Bats in Peru can be infected with rabies. The main precaution here is to sleep
indoors, preferably in a building with Mosquito mesh on the windows. A mosquito net
is also the best bet here.
Dogs: It is sensible to avoid dogs at all times.
6. AMAZON HOPE
Safety information is given on board the Amazon Hope Ship and this should be adhered
to at all times. It is possible to slip on the steep stairs, especially if wet or if footwear is
wet. Descending backwards is safer.
7. SWIMMING:
The Vine Trust policy is that our volunteers should be aware of the dangers of swimming.
Swimming is dangerous due to strong currents, the risk of infection and dangerous
creatures. You should not go swimming alone.
8. PERSONAL SAFETY
In Amazonia
Do not go alone into the village, especially if you are female.
Do not wander off alone to the jungle.
Avoid dusk to dawn even in the villages.
In the cities
It is advised that you do not go out alone, but always in small groups
Theft is a problem in Peru, mainly due to poverty; keep a close watch on all your
personal belongings.
9. IMMUNISATIONS
Please discuss your trip with your GP/practice nurse to ensure all your UK immunisations
are up to date and to advise you on necessary immunisations for Peru.
We recommend: Polio/Tetanus/Diptheria/Hepatitis A and B/ Typhoid/ Yellow Fever/ cholera
and rabies. Rabies is indicated because you may be more than 24 hours away from
immunoglobulin should you be bitten.
10. CONSTANT IMPROVEMENT
The Vine Trust is committed to continually evaluating and trying to minimise the risks to its
volunteers. The above document is comprehensive, but not exhaustive: please take care
while in Peru.
Should you identify any potential hazard not included in this document, please let us know as
soon as possible so we can evaluate the problem and minimise the risk.