Nivaclé Parasite and Anemia Project
Project Director: Kurt Mayberry
1343 S. Morningside Dr
Rexburg, ID 83440
208-359-9514
kmayberry@nivaclefoundation.org
Project Coordinator: Preston Wankier
1914 S. California Ave.
Provo, UT 84606
435-592-5256
prestonwankier@gmail.com
Background: The Nivaclé are an indigenous tribe of 15,000-25,000 scattered across the vast scrub plains of remote Paraguay. Over the last two generations, their traditional way of life has been changed by progress, displacement and Mother Nature. They are now living in deplorable conditions, unable to live according to traditional upbringing, yet also unable to adapt to a changing way of life. They have become dependent on charitable assistance and most are not self-reliant. Clean water and nutritious food are lacking. Education and vocational training are sorely inadequate and jobs are low paying and sporadic. They are a happy people, a grateful people, and a humble people who need help to pull themselves out of the condition they are in.
The Nivaclé children eat a low protein diet, but their health problems are exacerbated by hookworm infestations, resulting from blood loss as the hookworms feed in the intestinal tract. This leads to anemia (decreased energy, strength and mental ability), protein deficiency and diarrhea (fluid loss and dehydration).The village of Abundancia, like other Nivaclé villages, has a fundamental infrastructure and education problem leading to the hookworm problem. First, the latrines are in poor condition and in locations that lead to fecal spread near the houses during heavy rains. This spreads the larvae to the soil around the houses and where the children play. Second, children often do not use the latrines. Third, children do not wear shoes, exposing there skin to the larvae.
While rare in the U.S., hookworm infestation affects about a quarter of the world population. Hookworm eggs are passed in stool and infection results when a person comes in contact with the eggs from the contaminated soil or stool. The larvae enter through the skin and travel to the lungs through the blood. They climb up the lungs through the bronchi and trachea and then are swallowed. As the larvae pass into the digestive tract, they attach themselves to the wall of the small intestine. Here they mature into adult worms, mate and feed on the blood of the host. The cycle then starts over as more eggs are passed in the stool.
Infestation therefore occurs because of fecal contact with the soil. This occurs in areas of poor water treatment and hygiene. Infections can be treated with the drugs mebendazole, albendazole and pyrantel, but if the lifecycle of the parasite is not broken, then treatment is only temporary, as new intestinal infections will undoubtedly occur. Prevention must therefore be emphasized, not treatment.
Project Summary: Dr. Hibbert, the Provincial Secretary of Health and Human Services in Boqueron Province, is concerned about intestinal parasitic infestations and their association with protein deficiency and anemia. She has proposed a project within her Province to gain clinical information about the extent and severity of hookworm infections among the Nivaclé children. The results will assist her in obtaining possible government assistance in correcting the problem. A more immediate solution will be implemented in the village of Abundancia.
The following program will stop or at least slow the spread of hook worms and can be completed with the assistance of volunteers. The anemia testing will be done under the direction of Dr. Sandoval, a physician working in the hospital in the village of Villa Choferes and Dr. Hibbert, a Mennonite and Secretary of Health and Human Services in Boqueron Province.
Each of the 43 families should have a new latrine, set in a location and engineered to avoid overrun in heavy rain. Materials for the latrines as well as building tools will be supplied by the Foundation. Labor will be provided by the families as the building experience will greatly benefit the high school age kids and younger men of the community. Oversight will be provided by volunteers.
In conjunction with the Boqueron Province Department of Health and Human Services, 500 children will be tested for anemia, a sampling from 10 Nivaclé villages, including Abundancia. Pre-med students will do the blood testing using a simple centrifuge and capillary tubes with the assistance of the village health providers, one-year trained nurses assigned one nurse per village. The results of this can be used by Dr. Hibbert to seek government aid in solving the parasite problem throughout the region. Village health providers will gain valuable experience working with the college volunteers.
Volunteers will perform presentations in 10 schools to teach children about hygiene and how to prevent parasitic infections.
Research documenting the severity of the hookworm infestation prior to this project will be recorded and follow up research will be done in the years following. (Note: All volunteers are to perform extensive research about hookworm infestations its connection to anemia and other health problems prior to this trip.)
Shoes will be distributed to the Nivaclé in Abundancia and hopefully in other Nivaclé communities as well.
| Costs: | |
|---|---|
| Hematocrit testing equipment for 500 tests | $2,000.00 |
| Materials for 43 latrines | $2,150.00 |
| Building tools and shovels | $ 350.00 |
Items that will hopefully be donated
|
|
| Total | $4,500.00 |
| Volunteer costs: | |
|---|---|
| Flight to Asuncion, Paraguay | $1,600.00 |
| Transportation for 1-2 weeks | $ 300.00 |
| Room and board in Filadelfia, PY ($30/day) | $ 300.00 |
| Room and board in Asuncion, PY ($70/day) | $ 140.00 |
| Possible extra unforeseen expenses | $ 160.00 |
| $2,500.00 | |
The Nivaclé Foundation is a 501(c)3 charitable organization registered with the Internal Revenue Service of the United States of America. All donations made towards this project (materials, travel expenses, ect.) are tax deductible.
Please visit www.nivaclefoundation.org/