A Visit from the Nurses in Las Flores

 

Yesterday the nursing staff from the nearby clinic in Las Flores joined us in the field. They will be assisting us with follow-up phases of the research and we wanted to train them on the survey and the methods we are using. In addition to that, they took the opportunity to hand out pamphlets on Chagas and other infectious diseases, as well as distribute anti-parasite medication to the children. They realize that many people here do not come to the clinic for medical treatment and therefore they must go to them.

 

While the nurses in Las Flores serve the people in the communities where we are working, they have never visited them in their homes. They were shocked at the conditions in which people were living - especially with regards to sanitation. Many people do not have access to functioning toilets, and if they do, they are unclean and dangerous. Many people have unprotected entry into the toilet, and most of the walls are made of tarps. Because of this, human and animal waste litter the ground.

Because of the lack of water at certain times of year, this community may be a good fit for the ecological sanitation model. But it is important for us to know the risks of such technology, especially when we are considering the health of those who use them and the fact that they already do not seek medical treatment when they fall sick. That is why community development and education will be so important. We are thankful to have so many wonderful local partners working alongside us as we move through the phases of our research project.