Leaving the Jungle

During Taiwan Root's medical service in Peru, they traversed the Pacific Ocean, the Equator, the Peruvian Coast, the Andes Mountains, and penetrated deep into the Amazon basin. In three weeks, they gave medical and dental help to over 3,000 Aguarunas. They took over 1,000 blood, stool and urine samples (in order to contribute to the medical world's knowledge of the region), and they left behind not only healthier people, but also practical know-how that will have real effects on Aguaruna health in the future. Dr. Cheung used his microscope to teach the nurse at the Centro de Salud- Huampami how she could, using the limited means she has, diagnose and treat the dangerous parasitic infections that are all too common in Amazon. Dr. Huang provided quick relief from pain, pulling hundreds of decaying teeth, but he also taught his patients about how they, on their own, could take steps that would prevent their teeth from rotting in the future
On August 4, 2002, the day before the Root began their journey, neither they, nor the Aguaruna, knew very much about the other. The smells and sounds of a Taiwanese kitchen had yet to penetrate the air of Huampami. The Taiwanese palate had not yet been introduced to the intoxicating charms of the sour yucca beer called Masato. Three weeks later, these two groups had lived side by side, and came to understand that though they were from opposite sides of the world, they were not so different. They had some disagreements and misunderstandings of course, but they were able to put them aside in order to work together for their mutual benefit. The Aguaruna were now healthier than they had been a few weeks before, and the Taiwanese were now living in a slightly bigger world.