On April 10, two boats left the Brazilian town of Tabatinga on a two-month trip up the Amazon River to the remote Vale do Javari. Their mission: to use medical imaging technology to help diagnose and treat the local indigenous peoples living in the rainforest, and help prevent the spread of Western disease among the tribes.
Below is an update on the expedition's progress so far, from the diary of Rubens Pelizon, a service engineer with Eastman Kodak Health Imaging's Brazilian subsidiary. The following is translated from Portuguese.
Pre-expedition planning in Tabatinga
Problems, a lot of work, a lot of sweating due to the 36° C (96.8° F) average temperature during the afternoons, unexpected issues on arrival of the two teams, and a good deal of good luck and goodwill from all the team. Everything alive and kicking for the set-off of expedition.
April 10: Departure for Atalaia do Norte
Two very loaded boats with enough equipment, food, and fuel to last through the duration of the expedition. Team: 19 people, including two physicians, one biomedical person, one Indian expert, one engineer (me), three people for filming and photography, one coordinator, two cooks and crew.
April 11: Arrival at Atalaia do Norte
First natives to be examined with blood samples and x-ray examinations. After three days and three nights on the river, we arrive at the first village of the Matis tribe. The most urgent cases were taken care of. The men had gone hunting.
April 14: Arrival at Aldeia Marubo
Very ill woman there. X-ray examination. Diagnosis: pneumonia. Woman was medicated and the team stayed on until next morning to check her once again.
For the very first time, we were able to stop a couple of hours and get to see a village closely. It is good to see how people can live in perfect harmony without any apparent outside resources, which would be impossible for us "civilized men." In the village there are no beds, no electricity, no TVs ... no one knows what politics are, let alone religion.... But everyone respects each other and the elderly, too. The tribe has a chief who is the highest authority, and everybody respects and obeys him....
April 15: Departure for Marubo village
The farthest point upstream so far. Two boats crash into a sunken tree. Problems with the rudder and support. We were frightened but are all well. Two days stuck, repairing the boat....
This is just a brief summary of this week, which was not at all easy. Many problems have appeared, but we are managing to solve them one at a time.... We miss our families greatly, nostalgia for small things like a warm bath or a bed, or being able to go out without having to dress up to our necks and full of anti-mosquito cream.... I am totally convinced all this is really worth the while.
It's really nice to see the faces of all these natives. I'm very pleased because we are somehow helping them to be healthier.... It's an experience which is worth all the hard efforts we have made up to now.
By Rubens Pelizon
AuntMinnie.com contributing writer
April 27, 2004
Related Reading
Expedition brings radiology to remote reaches of the Amazon, April 2, 2004
Vale do Javari: One of the world's last wild places, April 2, 2004
Scanning the globe: Digital technology delivers healthcare to the jungle, April 2, 2004
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