Associação Médicos da Floresta
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Mission Statement
To seek and promote the quality of life and social inclusion of poor communities specially indigenous in Brazil, through innovative actions in the area of health, infrastructure and education. We are always open to new challenges in the area of healthcare and engineering so that these communities that live in remote areas have a dignified life.
About This Cause
Associação Médicos da Floresta - Forest Doctors Association or AMDAF is a non-profit civil entity, founded in April 2016 by doctors and managers with experience in providing voluntary health services in indigenous communities located in areas of difficult access. Today it has a multidisciplinary team of volunteers, including professionals in the areas of healthcare, engineering, administration and law. Today AMDAF is a member of the International Blindness Prevention Agency - IAPB, where we work together for a world in which everyone has access to the best possible standard of eye health; where no one is unnecessarily visually impaired; and where those with irreparable loss of vision reach their maximum potential. We had the pleasure of acting on the spot: 302 cataract and pterygium surgeries 6.351 complete eyecare 2.235 spectacles delivered 1.932 dental procedures for adults and children. “AMAZONIAN CATARACT PROJECT” According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are 285 million people around the world with some visual impairment, where 46 million are in Brazil and not everyone has equal access to eye health. Almost half of the cause of visual impairment is cataracts, an opacification of the lens of the eye which leads to progressive loss of vision. The “Amazonian Cataract Project” was born from the junction between the lack of specialized eye care in the population of the Amazon region, and the experience of AMDAF's founders and volunteers with work in the areas of health, logistics and project management, with the needy and indigenous people in the country. The previous work of the founders of the Association carried out in the Parque Indígena do Xingu, years before, provided a maturation and closer relationship with local leaders. The maintenance of this link of cooperation and trust, together with an important lack of assistance in eye health, led to the decision to implement the "Project Eyes of the Xingu", in which the main objectives are ophthalmological evaluation, clinical and surgical treatment and, finally , prescription glasses in the population of the entire Xingu Indigenous Park. Subsequently, the "Amazonian Cataract Project" would perform a surgical action in an appropriate location and that is logistically correct for a sustainable and safe project for patients identified with high complexity visual impairment, especially cataracts and pterygium. Despite the work of the local health Special Indigenous Sanitary Districts - DSEI, created to improve indigenous access to basic health, the demand for more complex services is high and requires additional assistance. According to the DSEI, the largest unmet demand from the local community is eye consultations. In fact, there is a great lack of qualified professionals and equipment necessary to serve the indigenous population that suffers some type of visual impairment. Main expected benefits 1. Higher quality of life and social re-inclusion through improved vision; 2. Improvement in school performance for children and young people, as well as in work and leisure activities; 3. Early detection of cases of high complexity / severity and referral to referral centers for appropriate treatment. "AMAZONIAN SMILE PROJECT" In 2017, AMDAF started a new project focused on dental care with ophthalmological actions, the “Sorria Xingu” project. After a field study carried out in conjunction with the technician responsible for the Oral Health Program (Indigenous Health Support Center - DSEI Xingu), a demand for dental care and high complexity procedures in the Alto do region were observed Xingu (MT), due to the isolation and lack of professionals and equipment in the region. Main expected benefits 1. Oral rehabilitation, aiming to recover functional conditions and improve oral aesthetics with the most modern techniques and solutions; 2. Medium and high complexity procedures, not performed by the local team; 3. Distribution of dental prosthesis. "AMAZONIAN TRACHOMA PROJECT" The World Health Organization (WHO) advocates the elimination of trachoma as a cause of blindness in the world. In order to understand the commitment to eliminate the disease, it is essential to adopt surveillance and control practices that expand the knowledge of the epidemiological situation aimed at the most vulnerable populations, for the identification of geographic areas at greatest risk, promoting greater access to diagnosis, treatment and educational actions for prevention. According to WHO, the number of people at risk of trachoma, the leading infectious cause of blindness in the world, fell from 1.5 billion in 2002 to just over 142 million in 2019, a 91% reduction. New data presented in 2019 for the Global Elimination of Trachoma by 2020 (GET2020) also show that the number of people needing surgery for trachomatous trichiasis, late stage of trachoma, dropped from 7.6 million in 2002 to 2.5 million in 2019, a 68% reduction. With this in mind, the “Amazonian Trachoma Project” was born from the junction between the lack of specialized eye care in the population of the Amazon region, and the experience of AMDAF founders and volunteers with work in the areas of health, logistics and project management, with the country's needy and indigenous populations. Objectives: Identification of communities with cases of trachoma, calculation of disease frequency and sociodemographic risk factors, professional training, offering treatment to patients and promoting hygiene and easy cleaning programs, working with indigenous peoples. Methodology: For the provision of specialized services, a partnership will be signed between SESAI, DSEIs, Secretariat of Health Surveillance and AMDAF. AMDAF is a non-profit organization that, through voluntary work, develops specialized ophthalmological actions and services for the vulnerable population. BECOME A HUMMINGBIRD You must have heard that old fable about the courageous Hummingbird that flies over the burning forest trying to put out the fire with small portions of water loaded in its beak. You must be wondering what a fable has to do with AMDAF… ... or because we are relating the Hummingbird, a bird so small and delicate, with our Association. We will tell you, but first we need to remind you of the fable ... With this short summary to follow… THE HISTORY OF THE HUMMINGBIRD While all the animals felt powerless in the face of the immensity of the flames and sought shelter in a safe place to protect themselves from the fire, the Hummingbird flew to the river to fetch water in its small beak and returned to pour the drop on the flames that consumed the forest with giant flames. The other animals watched admiringly, as the Hummingbird repeated the route to the river, on several trips, in an effort that they believed to be useless in the face of that enormous chaos. When asked why he insisted on traveling through the immensity of that fire to spill drops of water, the perceptive Hummingbird replied that he was doing his part and also pointed out that if each animal did its part, they could save the forest together. It is no coincidence that AMDAF uses the Hummingbird as a symbol, as it represents the work we develop through social projects that contribute to the improvement of living conditions and social participation in remote communities. When we started, our goal was to map and take the free eye exam to isolated villages through the Eyes of Xingu Project. In the first year alone, four expeditions were made to the population of the Xingu Indigenous Park, where we immediately realized the importance of the work developed there. The work was gaining more and more strength and representation in the communities. Volunteer professionals such as ophthalmologists, general practitioners, dentists and technologists were willing to dedicate a few days during the year to meet, understand and meet the needs of the villages being visited. He went to great lengths to try to save the forest, everyone's heritage. Although there was much more to be done, the Hummingbird gathered all its willingness to do its part. We believe that each volunteer professional and institutional partner is like a Hummingbird that helps us share the dream of making the world a better place. Have you thought about leaving the spectator place and becoming a volunteer? Volunteering is an inspiring action that connects us to others. The contribution, whether financial, of donating time and energy, sharing knowledge or ideas, helps to create stronger and more humanitarian communities. You can make a difference and help AMDAF by choosing the best type of donation you want to make. Transform yourself into a Hummingbird and act to improve the quality of life of underserved populations in remote areas. Since August 2019, the recent burnings in the Amazon have attracted the attention of the whole world and since then it has been highlighted on the world stage… But, don't think that deforestation and fires are the only problems in the Amazon. Our forests need to be looked after, as well as the people who live in them. Obviously it is essential to keep forests safe from deforestation and fires, but it is also very important to provide an improvement in the quality of life of the population living in forgotten communities. So it is essential that we act like the Hummingbird and start doing our part. We know that unity is strength and that the more Hummingbirds join our cause, the more help we can bring to remote communities. And that is why we invite you to be part of this project as one of our financial donors. Let's share this dream of making the world a better place. Do your part, become a Hummingbird!