We want to share some photos of our recent training of 16 Promotores de Buena Salud in Copacabana, Bolivia. Those of you on the April medical/dental team from Boise will recognize this as the school we worked in with the Copacabana Hospital staff. The promotores did it....they started our first school dental program! After initial instruction to both the teachers and the kids, everyone received a toothbrush for them to keep at school. All teeth will get brushed after breakfast each day at school. The promotores were so pumped, they are already planning to do the same in their own communities of Peru and Bolivia.





Pastor Juan Bautista of Copa. being interviewed by the local radio station about the La Buena Salud program and the new school dental program. Others were interviewed as well, leaving the promotores more motivated than ever to learn and take this information back to their communities.






Proof!

Rosa and Florentino hard at work with their Healthwise Handbooks preparing a presentation to the rest of the group on their assigned symptoms and illness.














Felipe is teaching and sharing his extensive knowledge of herbs and natural medicines. Many have been used for centuries, and are certainly more accessible than Ibuprofin and Tylenol! It was our turn to learn a lot of new things!








Felipe, Isidro and Rene hard at work preparing their presentation as well! The program has been a great exchange opportunity between Bolivia and Peru. Felipe is from Bolivia, the other two from Peru. Isidro, red jacket, works as a technician in the small Puesto de Salud of Ninantaya, up north. They are generating a lot of enthusiasm and support for the program.








Implementing brushing teeth was definitely new....adding dental floss was over the top! The promotores were proud to have mastered it (not that it will always be continued) and helped think of other alternatives...toothpicks, small sticks, thread, fishing line. Here Juan demonstrates his flossing skill, and explains why we do it to the class he taught.






Bev helping with hands-on instruction to the second graders.












Definitely a new experience for most! It is not uncommon here to see a mouth full of cavities and rotting teeth at a very young age. We have even seen it in 3 year olds. Sorry, Coca Cola and Mars Bars....we have also taught about nutrition and the destruction from carbonated soft drinks and candy, especially without any brushing or care.









Poco a poco.....little by little. Isn't she a cutie?