The Ali Shungu foundation

Though the Center is not yet totally completed, the Ali Shungu Foundation has hosted several Medical Missions that have offered general medical care to the villagers of the five communities.  The Doctors of these missions have noticed that the villagers are in general good health.  The most common complaints come from adults 30 years and older concerning upper gastrointestinal complaints.  It has been determined that most of these villagers have advanced cases of h-pylori infection, most likely resulting from lack of sewage and food that is kept too long without proper storage or refrigeration. 

A United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) study has revealed that over 80% of rural Ecuadorians are infected with the h-pylori bacteria.  Untreated, this bacteria develops into ulcers and eventually cancer of the stomach, the biggest killer in Ecuador.

These findings have inspired me, as the president of the Ali Shungu Foundation, to concentrate on providing diagnosis and treatment of intestinal parasites and particularly the diagnosis and treatment of h-pylori.  We feel that we can effectively reach and treat many more persons rather than offering general health care which is available close by.

Working with the Tandana Foundation and with help from Dr. James Hoyne of Montana, USA, we are hoping to develop an infrastructure that will enable us to offer free Laboratory tests and treatment for those infected with the bacteria.

The second stage of the project will be a program to educate and capacitate the people of these villages to avoid re-infection.  This will be done through a series of free seminars and eventually a series of free CD videos explaining the disease, its consequences and how to avoid it.

With this specific goal in mind, the Ali Shungu Foundation needs financial support more than ever to complete the structure that will serve as the laboratory.  The first floor of the Center is complete!  Funds are needed only for spackle, paint, floor and roof tiles and the second floor will be ready to install the Diagnosis Laboratory.  Hopefully, we will then obtain funding to provide free testing and treatment.