The Indiohilfe Peru helps Dr. Getting to grips with Simone Kann, Chagas, an insidious tropical disease. A 15,000 euro donation for shoes also helps.
Poverty and illness: a vicious cycle. But, you can blow it up. With energy, with community spirit, with impulses from outside. And with supporters such as the Indiohilfe Peru, originated in Sennfeld. Emil and Sigrid Heinemann founded the organization in 1984 after a trip to Peru. What started in Peru spread to other parts of South America. Mexico, Bolivia, Cuba.
A disease of poverty
Helping with small steps is the motto of Indiohilfe. This can be seen in the latest aid project in Bolivia, together with Dr. Simone Kann from the Mission Medical Institute in Würzburg. Indiohilfe supports the doctor in the fight against Chagas. The disease is a tropical disease of poverty, the doctor explains together with the Heinemanns. Dr. Can and Sennfeld have been working together for years. Thanks to the support of the association, she can also work with a mobile ultrasound device in Colombia. During an examination, she explained the function to one of the first patients as follows: “I’ll see if you look as beautiful on the inside as on the outside.” That has developed into a winged word. Dr. Kann is still touched when she thinks about the joy of a pregnant woman who saw her baby on ultrasound.
Kann also clearly explains why medical aid is so important for the indigenous people in Bolivia. Many hospitals would reject them. Even if someone can be away for days until he comes to a clinic from his village. The discrimination against the indigenous people is now showing ugly features during Corona: they are blamed for the pandemic. Donations also helped support families with grocery packages during Corona.
Fight against corruption
Chagas is a problem especially for the indigenous people, says the doctor, who spends a lot of time on site in Bolivia, oversees projects, supports them – and also fights against corruption. Her motto: “I’m not paying anything.” If she is in Germany, she does research in her Chagas laboratory, which was also supported by Indiohilfe, among others. Help also comes from Else Kröner Fresenius.
“Kann has developed a new diagnostic method that can be used to determine Chagas quickly and safely. The laboratory in Würzburg and, analogously, one in Colombia are required to scientifically establish the method,” says the homepage of Copal, an association who supports the Mission Medical Institute in its fight against Chagas.
There are 14 to 18 million people infected with Chagas worldwide, the doctor estimates. The disease is transmitted by predatory bugs, which find ideal conditions in mud huts with thatched roofs. The infection is not caused by the sting, however, but by rubbing in the excrement containing feces, which the insect deposits during sucking. The villagers hardly have access to treatments, malnutrition and a poor immune system increase the risk. About a third of those infected develop secondary diseases. Heart and stomach and bowel diseases can occur. This can result in chronic enlargement of the heart and a massive swelling of the esophagus and colon. “Young men go to the market with their mother and fall dead,” says Kann. “It is not unusual.”
Photo: Susanne Wiedemann
–
Dr. Can and her team examine the people, treat the drug infected with Chagas. The therapy is accompanied by a doctor on site. Very important: the support of the head of the community, the Mamo. “They are extremely educated people,” says Simone Kann. “They look straight into your heart.”
Fighting the predatory bug, educating about hygiene is one thing. The villages also get very simple water filters. This also improves the situation considerably, parasites, germs occur less or hardly. People from the villages are trained to be helpers, go from house to house, educate the housewife. For example about the water filter.
Photo: Susanne Wiedemann
–
Together with the Indiohilfe Dr. Can now be a very practical project to prevent infection. With 15,000 euros in donations, shoes are bought, ankle-high. They protect not only from insect bites, but also from snakes. Those who walk barefoot often have sores on their feet, which is also a source of infections. Can buy the shoes directly in Bolivia, then distribute them with her team.
Photo: COPAL e.V.
–
When she can fly there again, she doesn’t know yet. She hopes to be able to travel by the end of the year. It is currently being investigated how the predator bug is fought. You try chemistry and herbs, see what works best. Little steps, just.
Account number Indio help: DE21790690100006410979. The Indio-Hilfe has loyal donors, the trombone choir and the sunbeam choir call for donations at concerts, and there is a sales stand at the Advent market.
–
