Asociacion Vivir - Ecuador
AsociaciónVivir is a private, nonprofit, healthcare organization in Ecuador, which encourages people to take responsibility for their own well-being. It provides training programs in basic healthcare and nutrition, based on a holistic health model. Through classes, workshops and publications, Asociación Vivir encourages human growth, self-esteem, self-knowledge, improved gender relations and personal responsibility. Studies have shown that the organization has had positive impact on 80,000 people in rural and urban communities around Ecuador.
The organization has received national and international acclaim for providing a viable healthcare model for the world. In June 2000 the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) selected Vivir (out of 150 participants) as one of the 15 health projects to serve as a model to the world. Asociación Vivir has received monetary contributions from the European Union, UNICEF and other international NGO’s, including Susila Dharma Germany and Esquel in Ecuador. Several national and international institutions are proposing this project as a viable healthcare model for the whole of Ecuador.
HISTORY
Asociación Vivir began in Quito in 1987 and was an officially established organization by September 1991. The idea was realized by Quito local Dr. Mariana Eliana Garzón, who worked with women and children in a small clinic. She saw a need for women to learn to care for themselves and their children, learn about basic knowledge about health, and use alternate home therapies for simple diseases. “Empowering the mother to become the primary health care provider is our goal, and through her, we try to touch the other members of the family,” says Garzón. Dr. Garzón has been invited by the Ministry of Health of Ecuador to participate in healthcare reform for the country.
PROGRAMS AND COMMUNITY BENEFITS
• A comprehensive medical service in the local health center in Tumbaco, which can be used as a model for the integration of general medicine with homeopathy, acupuncture, chiropractic, psychology, dentistry and nutrition.
• Numerous workshops for patients, including practical nutritional cooking, simple home remedies to treat common ailments, and information to increase awareness of the conditions that cannot be treated at home.
• Training programs for doctors and nurses addressing nutrition and community-based healing methods.
• The creation of networks of professionals who can share their knowledge with other healthcare providers, including public and private institutions.
• The Si Escuela Project which promotes integrated health and nutrition in schools and includes medical service, dentistry, and educational workshops.
• The Solidarity Families Program which assists families with practical workshops on nutritional cooking, alternative home therapies, gender relations, etc. Families also receive free medical service with the condition of attending the workshops.
VISION
Asociación Vivir is building the foundations for a broader approach to healthcare. It challenges the belief that health is about receiving treatment and medicine in medical centers. It encourages cultural pride and the bringing back of centuries-old methods of healing. Western medicine is complimented by researching natural South American and Andean healing traditions. Garzón states, “We train people to take a leadership role in their communities and to work as a team, sharing what they have learned.”
Download:
Asociacion Vivir 2006 Annual Report (English)
Asociacion Vivir 2006 Annual Report (Spanish)
Asociacion Vivir 2005 Annual Report (Spanish version)
Asociacion Vivir August 2006 report (Spanish)
Asociacion Vivir August 2006 report (English)
Ashokaa report (English)
Ashokaa report (Spanish)
Contact:
Dr. Eliana Mariana Galarza (de Garzón)
P.O Box : 17-16-1898, Quito, Ecuador.
Email: avivir@interactive.net.ec
Web: www.avivir.org/home.htm
|
|
