"It is good to have the opportunity to realize the situation of children and we must improve the nutrition of our children. We have health problems and we need changes in the communities, so I appreciate the support you are giving the project.” This sentiment was expressed by Agustín Tenten, President of the Achuar Nationalities of Ecuador (NAE) to the delegation from Global Affairs Canada and PAHO which visited the Amazonian indigenous community as part of the Integrated Health Systems in Latin America and the Caribbean Project (IHSLAC). The visit took place from May 21 to 24, 2018.
Mr. Tenten’s comments were addressed to Réjean Hallée, Senior Program Officer for the Inter-American Regional Program of Global Affairs Canada, PAHO’s counterpart for IHSLAC, who made an official visit on behalf of the Government of Canada to the Amazon region of Ecuador.
The IHSLAC Project is implemented by PAHO / WHO with the financial support of the Government of Canada. It contributes to improving the health of children and women in situations of vulnerability in Latin America and the Caribbean. In Ecuador, this project is carried out in four districts of Health Region 6 located in Morona Santiago Province, including Sucúa, Taisha, Méndez and Tiwintza. It supports the implementation of intersectoral and inter-institutional plans to improve the health of the population by supporting health systems and services, improving the nutrition of mothers and children, and the care of prevalent diseases.
Mr. Hallée’s visit was a much anticipated event and he was accompanied by Guillermo Márquez, Regional Coordinator of the project from PAHO / WHO based in Washington D.C. The objective of the visit was to see firsthand some of the results and actions implemented through the project and the challenges of working in the remote Amazonian context with a high proportion of indigenous populations. During the visit, the mission team met with the leaders of the Achuar Nationality of Ecuador (NAE) at its headquarters in Puyo, observed work at the Hospital of Sucúa and visited the Achuar community of Wichimi in the district of Taisha, bordering Peru, which has a population of around 900 people who keep their language, customs and traditions alive.
The visit was an opportunity to discuss a range of topics including the results of the survey for "Nutrition and child development in children under 5 years" was presented to the leaders of the indigenous organizations and community of Wichimi. In 2017, the survey was conducted in Sucúa, Tiwintza and Taisha as part of the activities of the project. The survey analyzed information on water and sanitation coverage, prevalence of different forms of malnutrition, chronic malnutrition, overweight / obesity, anemia, vaccination scheme and prenatal controls. Likewise, the survey identified the reasons and causes of these health problems. Based on the results of the survey, the commitment of the local authorities was achieved to continue working with the local populations, to reduce malnutrition, particularly malnutrition of children under 5 years of age, as well as to improve the health of mothers and pregnant women based on the strengthening of the responsiveness of health services and the active participation of institutions and the community.
The visit by Canada and PAHO’s delegation included several discussion sessions and public speakers. Oswaldo Suárez, the coordinator of Ecuador’s Zone 6 for Health, thanked PAHO and Canada for their technical and economic support towards the improvement of health on the Amazonian border and expressed the importance of the partnership and collaboration and the joint effort, “Only joint work with the participation of the community and the empowerment of the leaders will be able to find solutions to the multiple problems that exist in these communities far from the central powers,” said Suárez. He went on to express the need for the project to continue, “This project which aims to improve health in vulnerable groups is very important. In the indigenous communities the development conditions are critical and the health problems are very serious,” said Mr. Suárez.
Mr. Hallée highlighted the value of the actions carried out by the project in these indigenous communities of the Amazon and the commitment of the government of Canada in conjunction with PAHO, Ecuador's Ministry of Health (MOH), and local authorities, to work for the health of communities and particularly children, girls and women, within the framework of the International Assistance Feminist Policy of Canada. Mr. Hallée outlined Canada’s International Assistance Feminist Policy and how it is intended to assist in development work, "The adoption of this policy aims to promote gender equality and help empower women, girls and adolescents. We believe that it is the most effective approach to reduce poverty and achieve a more prosperous world. Women and adolescents in particular are disadvantaged, have unequal access to resources and opportunities and continue to face risks of violent conflict, economic and political insecurity.” Mr. Hallée also emphasized that the environment is a critical element that affects the health of people and is a key element of what Canada and PAHO intend to address through the IHSLAC Project. "We know the damaging impact of air and water pollution on our health, especially of newborns and children under 5 years of age,” said Hallée.
Mr. Hallée thanked all participants for this opportunity to see up close the great work that is being done in Ecuador. He thanked the communities and indigenous organizations for their hospitality and warm welcome. He also thanked MOH and PAHO / WHO on behalf of Global Affairs Canada (GAC) for their hard work and collaboration, "We are proud to work with PAHO on the Integrated Health Systems Project in Latin America and the Caribbean to improve the health and well-being of women, mothers, children and adolescents in the region," said Mr. Hallée. He also offered special thanks to Oswaldo Suárez (Coordinator of Zone 6), Fernando Solís (Director of Health Promotion Zone 6), Nadia González (Director of the Taisha Health District), Leaders of the Achuar Nationality of Ecuador (NAE), Zone and District Teams of the MOH, Adrián Díaz (National Project Coordinator) and PAHO / WHO staff from PAHO’s Ecuador Office.
The visit was a unique opportunity for cultural exchange, celebration and expression of thanks but it primarily highlighted the valuable contribution from Canada and PAHO through the project. Mr. Tenten’s openning words regarding the importance of the project to his nation’s children were echoed in the closing remarks of Adrián Díaz, Representative of PAHO / WHO in Ecuador, who noted the importance of the project for the future and sustainability of the indigenous community, "Understanding why children are malnourished and what we can do together is a priority. This problem has to do with the future of the Wichimi community. Wichimi will be in 20 years what we do now for women and children,” said Mr. Diaz.
