BOARD BIO: RUTH WICKENDEN ABEL
 Ruth is the Chair of the Board of APECA USA. A highly experienced and active volunteer, Ruth has been on the UCLA YWCA Board of Directors, on the Board of Directors of the Southern California Conference of the United Church of Christ, a Trustee of the Leonis Adobe Association, and held many positions in groups of both the schools her children have attended and her local church.
Born in Bronxville, New York, Ruth is a graduate of Denison University and holds a degree in Business Administration from Harvard Business School. She has worked for Boston University and the Volunteer Bureau of Boston. She is widowed and has three children and three grandchildren.
APECA is grateful for the experience and commitment she brings to its Board.
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MEDICAL/DENTAL CAMPAIGN
DISCOVERS BOY IN NEED
The joint APECA/Healing the Children Dental Campaign held last fall visited 8 villages in four days, screening over 600 people for dental problems and treating 543. In addition a team of first aid specialists treated over 300. Discussions between visiting dentists and those of Peru took place in the pursuit of an international exchange of knowledge. The Peruvian Dental Society and the Dean of the Faculty of the School of Dentistry look forward to having future opportunities to coordinate education for students and professionals in Peru.
 During the campaign, a ten year old boy from the community of San Martin was presented with a severely infected tumor on his head, hidden under his baseball cap. Although APECA’s mission and goals are defined as aiding in the development of existing communities, the boy could not be overlooked. Director Gina Low explains, “We have been working for over ten years to build the trust of these villagers. It isn’t possible to turn our backs and walk away from problems like these.” Through the aid of APECA, the boy Ever was brought to the nearest hospital in Iquitos, the nearest city, to be examined and treated.
A photographer from the dental campaign, Sergio Burani, brought his pictures of Ever back to the United States. Through the generous donations of people who saw Ever’s picture and heard his story, a fund called the Social and Medical Assistance Fund was developed for individual emergencies like Ever’s.
In rural communities often all that stands between a snake bite and life-saving antivenom is transportation to a hospital. People die from not being able to afford a simple hospital fee. The new fund allows for aid on the individual level. With the help of people like those touched by Ever’s story, APECA can continue to provide the simple bridge between people and medicine. See the APECA website for more information.
We would like to extend our appreciation to Sergio Burani and those who joined his efforts in making the Social and Medical Assistance Fund possible.
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BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE
 In the expectation of decades more work in Amazonia, APECA is about to begin a second dormitory for the El Fundo premises built out of “material noble”, a special combination of materials built to last through the natural regeneration forces of the Rainforest. Dormitories at El Fundo house visiting students and professionals, as well as local people participating in El Fundo training session.
“Material noble,” a combination of cement and brick, is a responsible method of sustainable development, sparing unnecessary logging of the precious and threatened Rainforest.
This summer a group of eight volunteers will be going to the APECA study center at El Fundo to build this dormitory. APECA is looking for more willing volunteers, of all skill levels, to participate in the construction to take place for two weeks this summer, beginning June 18. Living conditions include beds with mosquite nets, and bathrooms with flush toilets and showers. Those who wish can spend an extra week going to Machu Piccu and/or the Galapogos Islands.
Please email wmowen@apecaperu.org for more information.
(Editor’s note: As we go to press Dr. Phil Rossori MD of the San Francisco Bay Area is planning to lead a trip to Peru in October 2006, visiting APECA for the benefit of APECA’s program. He is a consulting internist, photographer and world health worker. Watch for more information in our next edition.)
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CONTINUING CLEAN WATER
SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT
Clean, safe drinking water is the most important first step in the development of sustainable communities. APECA has developed a water system which is self-sustaining with low maintenance costs, allowing for potable water to be available to an entire community.
The prototype water system was build in the village of Nuevo Progresso in 2005, combining a rainwater catchment system with substantial community education on the benefits of clean water.
This year APECA plans to construct four more water systems. The Rotary Clubs of Iquitos and of California were both involved in the funding of the first project, and have committed more funds to this year’s systems. With continued funding from outside sources APECA will be able to reach 30 different communities in the Fernando Lores district of Peru, bringing health education and health benefits to the Amazon
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DIRECTOR’S REPORT NOTES:
- All of the managing health care professionals responsible for the management of village health posts were present for instruction in birthing and other health issues, the training presented by the Ministry of Health through APECA.
- In March 2006 APECA will hosted Maura Fulton, the Director of the Peace Corps Encore (PCE). APECA is excited about exploring mutual interests for future projects in Loretto.
- Keep checking the APECA website for contributions from friends of APECA.
- Finally, I thought you would be interested in a message sent by my friend and classmate Rusty
(Russell Morgan, President of SPRY.) (See next story, “Lack of Will…”)
Gina Low, Executive Director, APECA
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'LACK OF WILL' HINDERS
AID TO POOREST OF WORLD
This February the Global Health Council released a report on the state of health care delivery to the poorest 2 billion citizens of the planet. According to the report it is not uncertainty about what works that has kept the world from addressing critical health needs. It has been the lack of will to fully apply this knowledge.
The report focuses upon four health areas including child health, women’s health, HIV/AIDS, and other infectious diseases. In addition, given the widespread problems of under-nutrition and malnutrition, it considers food as a health intervention.
This report comes on the heels of President Bush’s fiscal year 2007 budget recommendations, which include both important increases in funding for HIV/AIDS and malaria, and proposed cuts to child health and family planning programs, that, if not increased by Congress, would do great harm according to the report.
- Child health: nearly 11 million children die each year, more than two-thirds from preventable causes. The intervention methods to prevent and treat childhood illnesses are known, proven and inexpensive. FY06 US appropriation: $310 million. FY07 need: $945 million.
- Women’s health is the basis for healthy, functioning societies, and the toll of unintended pregnancies, unsafe deliveries, and sexually transmitted infections kills and maims tens of millions of young women each year. In addition, women’s social status and vulnerabilities in many societies make them at far higher risk for non-reproductive illnesses as well. FY06 US appropriation: $440 million to family planning; $50 million to maternal health. FU07 need: $865 million total.
- Infections and parasitic diseases other than HIV/AIDS, exact a heavy toll in low-income countries, but receive relatively little attention. Proven prevention, treatment and control techniques exist that, if deployed effectively, could reduce the burden of infectious disease in the most effected nations and reduce the risk of spread to other countries. FY06 US appropriation: $418 million. FY07 need: $1.6 billion.
For more information on this report CLICK HERE
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APECA EMBRACES EARTH DAY
APECA is eager to use the opportunity of Earth Day (April 22) to involve people from the US in Amazon conservation programs. APECA has been developing a two year reforestation project to address the issue of the devastating logging taking place in the Amazon.
By establishing nurseries in villages where several types of trees are grown, economically sound systems for the provision of human needs are created. The trees provide for the building of homes, and eventually are used for a cash crop, preserving other trees in the oxygen producing Rainforest.
Earth Day is the kick off of this two year project. With the involvement of schools in California and the contributions of other generous individuals, APECA is celebrating Earth Day by giving trees back to the Rainforest, one community at a time.
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