Family Health Program In Galapagos
Photo By Red Mangrove
Photo By Red Mangrove
Photo By Red Mangrove
Red Mangrove continues to seek the welfare of the inhabitants of the islands and along the line of draft links with the community began with a Family Health Program, which was carried out to the inhabitants of Isabela and Floreana Islands, as well as checking in our staff in Santa Cruz.
The Family Health Program for Red Mangrove employees and its suppliers was responsibility of CINTERANDES Foundation and sponsored by Red Mangrove.
This program had the direct presence of the foundation's president, Dr. Edgar Rodas, who during his visit from 2nd to September 12th could perform the following activities to the Islanders.
1. - Consultation: The best way to reach a population in which you want to make health care is by curative care, as it solves the problems felt by that population.
| Isabela | 26 (One of the visits was a tourist) |
| Floreana | 4 |
| Santa Cruz | 5 |
| TOTAL | 35 |
Three patients will travel to Cuenca (the continent) for surgery and another one for special tests. There were two patients with hypertension and one with diabetes, who will be under continuous monitoring.
2. - Registration of family records and number of people to be served: Then, it is essential to collect information on health and socio-economic status of families who will receive treatment, which is made by keeping family records.
| Family records | People registered | |
| Isabela | 14 | 40 |
| Floreana | 1 | 6 |
| Santa Cruz | 6 | 22 |
| TOTAL | 21 | 28 |
There were two pregnant women.
3. - Classification of groups according to age: The classification by age of the population to be served is very important in order to implement specific programs by age.
| Isabela | Floreana | Santa Cruz | Total | |
| Less than 1 year | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
1 to 4 years | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 5 to 9 years | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 10 to 19 years | 3 | 1 | 9 | 13 |
| 20 to 64 years | 26 | 5 | 13 | 44 |
| Over 65 years | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
4. - Visits to the Health Centers: In Isabela the Municipal Health Center and Health Center of the Ministry of Public Health (MSP) were visited in order to get support for the program and perform coordinated tasks. The doctors were very receptive (Dr. Suarez from the Municipality and Dr. Myrna Garate from MSP). The MSP Center has a very well-equipped operating room. Some maintenance is still pending, but once made a brigade could be schedule for surgical care.
5. - Needs and operational plans: After the visit a list of needs has been drawn up, and an immediate operational plan plus another one starting in January 2011 which will have a report later.
6. - Meeting with Caleb Hayes, Diving Sales & Operations Manager: We will coordinate with the Medical Program for the operation of the hyperbaric chamber. In this regard CINTERANDES will get foreign doctors and medical students for a training and voluntary rotating schedule every two months.
For the implementation of this program it is required to solve the following points:
- To provide premises for office and residence of the medical staff. Red Mangrove will be in charge.
- Furnishing the office and waiting room. Red Mangrove and CINTERANDES Foundation will be responsible.
- To provide the necessary equipment, organize a small laboratory and acquire basic reference books. Likewise, Red Mangrove and CINTERANDES Foundation will be responsible.
- To provide the medicines to address common health problems in the islands. Red Mangrove will be the provider.
- To hire and train a physician in primary family care activities. CINTERANDES Foundation will provide the medical training and Red Mangrove is responsible for hiring and transfer the physician to Isabela Island.
- To hire and train a volunteer student to assist the doctor. The process will be the same as with the doctor.
- To hire and train a person from the community to assist the doctor. Red Mangrove and the community will be responsible for this.
Finally, the objectives of the Family Health Program in the Galapagos Islands is summarized in the following points:
- To obtain the medical and sociological information necessary for the program. This activity already has 90 records with information on people and their families from Isabela, Floreana and Santa Cruz.
- To organize and use efficiently the information obtained. For this purpose the population was classified by age groups and by now this classification has a written record.
- To keep the child population free from preventable diseases by immunization procedures. This goal requires ensuring that children of age groups (under 1 year, 1-4 years and 5-9 years) have their full vaccination schedule so the vaccination card from MSP will be requested.
- To keep the child population under normal nutrition, growth and development. To accomplish this, a test must begin in January 2011 and be repeated every month to the first three age groups and then quarterly to the group of 10-19 years. This control will be through a continuously updated record that will shows the growth and development.
- To promote a sexual and reproductive healthy behavior. Subprograms related to sexual and reproductive health will be executed according to age of individuals. The control will be through the updated family records.
- To keep the young people free from addictions to alcohol, drugs and cigarettes. This will be achieved through recreational programs, education and information and will be controlled with a monthly report on these activities.
- To solve pathological problems that may occur to individuals and also to tourists within the Family Health Program and maintain permanent control of chronic problems. This will begin in January 2011 providing ongoing care and keeping clinical records. Chronic patients will receive daily attention.
- To investigate the procedures of traditional and alternative medicine from the population in the Islands. This research will be kept in records starting January 2011, and then from April to June 2011 the protocol design will be enhanced.
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