Big Developments in the Amazon Hope Programme
In the most recent edition of Connections we shared news of a new collaboration between the Amazon Hope Medical Programme, USAID and a Peruvian NGO, CEDRO which was to introduce a new mental health project as part of the response to the impact of COVID-19 in remote riverine communities.
We’re delighted to announce that the project has also been approved for a second phase to its work which will see a wider variety of the existing Programme’s activities be expanded and also new activities introduced. This extension to the project’s remit has been the result of hard work and dedication of the Amazon Hope team in Peru, with all their great effort resulting in this very important opportunity to significantly enhance the impact and reach of the Programme.
The new funding, which will last until the end of 2022, will see both medical ships reaching full capacity for expeditions, reaching existing and new communities including Atalaya, Datem del Maranon and Yurimaguas.
As well as the full complement of primary health services provided on the ships, counselling care and support will be available to patients and families, and the project will also run more mental health workshops for children, adolescents and adults.
A key element of the project is the building of local capacity to respond to health needs. Phase 2 will see an expansion of the training for health post personnel as well as materials provided for school teachers and community leaders. There will also be an extension to activities which provide training to communities to help them identify underlying causes behind many of the health challenges they face, as well as the development of locally-led strategies to address them.
The new phase of funding will also allow the Programme to bring in a new team member to work with the communities in the areas of nutrition and safe water, providing education and training as well as laying the foundations for the development of further activities in the future.
It’s a very exciting time ahead and, as the work develops, we’ll be providing more updates in our newsletters and social media.