MEDICINE IN THE JUNGLE
The shaman treats locals with all-natural medicines from plants grown in a garden that he tends to regularly. The medicinal plants treat acne, arthritis, bug bites, snake bites, muscle soreness, and sunburns.
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The clinic was founded in 1990 by Dr. Linnea
Smith, M.D. She gave up her Wisconsin
medical practice and started to provide
medical services to the people of Peru.
Today the clinic treats 2500-3000 patients a
year. The services the clinic provides are
family planning, prenatal care and birthing,
dental care, treatment of snakebites,
cholera, parasites, malaria, care of trauma,
and treatment of a multitude of infectious
diseases. The other staff members include a
local resident, Edemita, Juvencio, two
Peruvian nurses, a Peruvian doctor, and
three local men who care for the clinic.
Edemita is a clinic manager who was trained
by Linnea. Juvencio is a nurse, medic,
malaria slide reader, and clinic engineer. This
\year on the PT experience, three students
made a trip to the clinic due to unfortunate
medical circumstances. Roldan helped the
girls communicate with the Spanish
speaking doctor but despite the language
barrier, the staff at the clinic treated them as
if they were from the local village.
Yanamono Clinica