|
|||||||||
|
Loja |
||||||||
| The Loja Province
boarders Peru in southern Ecuador and houses high-altitude cloud
forests, upper limits of the Amazon rainforest and tropical
coastal areas. It also houses an ideal environment for the
transmission of tropical diseases - including malaria, yellow
fever and Chagas’ Disease.
Students visited the city of Loja and
toured the Loja National University to understand tropical
disease prevention and treatment programs. Two years ago, a
community-based program Healthy Spaces was founded
to improve education, sanitation and disease prevention along
the Peruvian/Ecuadorian border. Healthy Spaces Director
and Loja National University Professor
“Chagas’ is a silent killer,” Dr. Mario Grijalva said during a discussion with students and Dr. Malo. “Some may say ‘there isn’t Chagas’ here’, simply because they haven’t looked for it. The vector that carries Chagas’ has been found in Loja: if we look for Chagas’, we find it.”
Group meets the faculty of the Tropical Disease Studies Program at U. Nacional of Loja.
Dr. Rivadeneira, Provincial Director of Health, Ministry of Health, Loja explains the health areas structure of the region. |
|||||||||
Dr.
Miguel Malo explained the high prevalence of malaria in the Loja
province; during the peak season, 20 cases are reported a week
in a province with a 500,000 total population. There is also a
high incidence of Degue fever and Chagas’ Disease, yet due to
misdiagnosis and lack of qualitative research and education, the
prevalence of these diseases is not fully understood.
Students
didn’t have to look far to find evidence of Chagas’ in Loja.
Five minutes from the National University at the Loja Red Cross,
Blood Bank Director Dr. Oswaldo Aguirre said that four,
seemingly healthy, volunteer blood donors have tested positive
for Chagas’ since January 2000. Students toured this and other
Ecuadorian Red Cross blood banks during the trip, learning about
blood screening and the importance of a quality blood supply to
eliminate Chagas’ and other tropical diseases.
