Sustainable I-MED Training in the Jungles
"These remote jungle areas are some of the most neglected areas in South America when it comes to receiving not only medical care, but Biblical materials and discipleship, as well."
"Pray for me, I'm going to spend the next week in the village of Tiwaeno!" This is an exciting statement that's been a long time coming for the medical program at ITEC Ecuador. Tiwaeno is a jungle village where one of our I-MED trainees is living and working as a health promoter. After three I-MED trainings over the last nine months, Rhonda, the nurse at ITEC Ecuador, has now begun a process of visiting each of the villages of the trainees and providing further medical and spiritual connection and support in those locations.
Medical Care in the Jungles
The jungle is a difficult place for medical care. No 911 emergency calls there. If someone needs treatment, they have to get to a village where there's a radio (which could mean hiking for a few hours through dense jungle foliage, or traveling by canoe down the river), call a doctor for remote triage, wait for an airplane to come pick them up, get to the medical facility from the airport and then wait for care after they get to the clinic or hospital. This process can take hours, if not days.
In response to the medical need in the jungle areas, ITEC started a series of trainings last year with a group of the Waodani from eight different villages. Just last month, the group completed their third I-MED training, along with Biblical discipleship and time for relationship building among the group members. The trainings consisted of Vital Signs, HIV, Flu, Fractures/Splinting, Wound Care, Worms/Parasites, Dehydration, Skin Infections and several other topics, along with Biblical discipleship each day. What an awesome time! Some shared about how they have been able to use the medical training in caring for the people in their communities, which is an answer to prayer! Since our vision is to use medical care as a way to improve not only the physical lives of the communities but also expand opportunities to share the Gospel, we love hearing these testimonies
Dedicated Students
These remote jungle areas are some of the most neglected areas in South America when it comes to receiving not only medical care, but Biblical materials and discipleship, as well. ITEC Ecuador has it in their heart to change that situation and to see the church in those areas thriving and taking care of their people. This is the same vision that these Waodani have for their communities. Some traveled for hours and days by foot and canoe to make it to the training, and their dedication to learning the material was proof they intend to do something about the situation.
As the work continues in each of these villages in Ecuador, we pray that the previous trainings will continue to bear fruit and the ongoing relationship will provide opportunities to work together for the improvement of health in the communities and spiritual growth for the churches.