| By Rachelle
Mason & Paula Ackerman AMUPAKIN
is a pilot project combining
traditional midwifery techniques of the indigenous Quechuan culture with
more modern standards of hygiene as supervised by the Ecuadorian Red Cross.
This traditional midwifery center serves 72 rural communities focusing on
service delivery to the local indigenous people.
As of yet, the center has only been open
for two months. The goal for this center is to achieve a pivotal role for
obstetric, family health care and education for women in the area. In
contrast to the Western-based hospital care in the urban areas of Ecuador,
this center actively encourages and promotes the use of traditional
positions and natural medicine in the delivery process. In the traditional
labor process, the pregnant woman either sits on a vertical birthing chair
or kneels on the floor with a support women bracing from behind or using a
rope hanging from the ceiling for support. The support woman also applies
superior abdominal pressure in time with the contractions of active labor to
aid in the decent of the fetus. To aid a swift delivery, women are
encouraged to walk around between contractions, a method which is now being
strongly reemployed in Western medicine.
Traditional medications and remedies are also employed
in this clinic. The table below describes a
brief synopsis of some the materials used to treat common symptoms and
complications that are experienced during pregnancy.
In an effort to reduce the current maternal
mortality rate during childbirth (1/47 in Ecuador, as compared to 1/100,000
in Western culture), this clinic stresses the use of Western sanitation and
sterilization in order to ameliorate unclean conditions within the village
setting. This integration with Westernized standards is also augmented by
the use of vitamin K shots for neonates. However, this is the extent of
modern intervention.
Of vital importance to this center its aim
to maintain financial self-sustainability. In order to maintain a supply of
all needed traditional plants, ecologically friendly gardens are maintained
not only for use by the clinic, but also to provide profit in the sale of
excess production. The clinic is also currently developing a residential
education program for tourist interested in traditional culture and
medicine. It is hoped that this will provide the means for this clinic to
become a long term provider for these communities.
|
Symptom |
Traditional Remedy |
|
Fever |
Mint infusion |
|
Induce labor |
Claw of Armadillo |
|
Maneuvering of Baby into head position,
Internal examination of vaginal dilation |
Boiled chicken
fat |
|
Aid in release of placenta |
Flower of Plantain (heated) |
|
Revive woman after labor |
Basil (burned for incense) or Cat’s Claw |
|
Upset stomach, ease of labor |
Garlic |
|
Control of hemorrhaging |
Casava (Yuca) |
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The recently build facilities of AMUPAKIN, near
Archidona, Napo province provide a solid foundation for the
development of a innovative multicultural health care model.
M.G.
The center has a well stocked pharmacy of medicinal
plants and a well trained staff that is able to provide basic prenatal
care, education, assistance during child delivery and that are trained
to recognize complications for emergency referal of patiants to
a local hospital. M.G.
The use of traditional medicines derived from plant
and animal products is combined with western type hygienic practices.
M.G.
The kneeling birthing position is preferred by the
local population. M.G.
Cultivation of medicinal plants provides material
for the use of the center and also income through the local sale of
medicinal plant products. M.G.
|
