Activity, It's Own Medicine - Ecuador

Much discussion took place amongst a unique group of healthy 80+ year old citizens from the Valley of Vilcabamba, Southern Equador, when a sum of capital was made available for their welfare. They decided to form a committee with one of their centenarians as the leader & make some decisions about their future. Interpersonal communication & community involvement led to a business idea which required talks with the local university to fulfill an important part of the business process.

Ageing, Population, Economic Development, Health

Many of the members from the 'Committee for the Defence of the Anciano of Vilcabamba' agreed that the usual 'easy work' ideas did not meet their needs. With the understanding that they would need level ground for some of the physically challenged to work on, the committee decided to revive local medicinal remedies, many of which were long forgotten. "The centenarians & nonagenarians would go into the forest to identify roots, leaves & berries which 'grandmother used to use' as effective, immediately available cures". The newly purchased plot of land was used to cultivate these medicinal plants. The committee recieved support from the local university & the local medical officer who tested the remedies for toxicity & "maximum impact". Printed labels describing the product & dose were used, as many had forgotten how to use the plants & many of the younger generation would not have experienced the 'older' medicines. The remedies were sold at a fraction of the price of imported medicine & even then, profits were made to pay wages to the workers & to employ a health worker for the elderly who were sick/housebound. An "environmentally friendly" programme which had a positive impact on the larger community & proved the "wisdom of age" to be a valuable resource.