I think I’m passing a kidney stone. Maybe, maybe not. I have a lot of back pain in the area that would indicate that I do. I know because I’ve had them before. Several of them. They suck. They pop up at the least opportune times and can screw up your life for several days. If you know anything about kidney stones, you’ve probably heard people say, “Well, for a man, that is the closest they will ever come to feeling the pain of delivering a baby.” I don’t know, because obviously, I’ve never had a baby. But I’ll tell […]

Read More…

“If you do something unnatural, then you should expect an unnatural result.” Those were some of the first words that Martyn Luberti said to me when we met to talk about his business, Light & Touch Therapy. And another central theme—that supporting the body to heal itself is the most effective way, and the least invasive—ran through our entire conversation for two hours. But let’s back up a second and talk about Martyn and what he is doing for his patients here in Cuenca. Light & Touch Therapy is a unique alternative treatment option for people to obtain relief from […]

Read More…

By Irene Gardner In July 2019, an article entitled The Achuar and Preserving the Amazon appeared in the Cuenca Dispatch, which described the efforts of the Achuar, supported by the Friends of Ikiam here in Cuenca, to preserve the traditional rainforest territory of the Achuar indigenous people of Ecuador. This article, follow-on to the story about the Achuar, describes, the “Palora Pastaza Bio-Corridor Project” a globally significant conservation effort.  This important project, currently under development, has two focus areas: rainforest conservation and stimulating Ecuador’s economy. Although larger portions of the rainforest are spread over several South American countries, Ecuador, with […]

Read More…

The cost of this intervention in the private health system is around $ 20,000. However, in the hospital it is done for free. Teófilo Ríos, 70, is the first patient of the José Carrasco Arteaga hospital to receive ministernotomy surgery (a minimally invasive surgery) to change an aortic valve. Javier López, head of Cardiac Surgery, commented that heart surgeries have been performed for five years at the hospital and have been improved with the minimally invasive technique. “We are the first public hospital that performs this type of surgery, with a small incision for rapid recovery and reducing surgical trauma,” López […]

Read More…

The people who dedicate themselves to asking for money in exchange for cleaning windshields of the cars on the streets and avenues of the city, are causing drivers discomfort because tof their aggressive attitudes. These “squeegee men” can often be found on Avenida de las Américas and Tinajillas, Remigio Crespo Avenue, Larga Street, Doce de Abril Avenue and Huayna Cápac and around the Alejandro Serrano Aguilar Stadium. But it’s not just the squeegee men causing problems. Drivers are also complaining about the overabundance of people asking for charity and selling and fruits and whobecome insistent that people buy their products, […]

Read More…

Last Friday, November 29, the HIV Prevention Campaign was launched as part of the commemoration of World AIDS Day. The act was carried out in the Mayor’s Office of Cuenca and was promoted together with the Sexual and Reproductive Health Network (RED SEX). The launch was attended by members of civil society and students from different educational establishments, who learned about this campaign and were informed about the different methods of protection and help they can receive to prevent the infection. Pedro Palacios, mayor of Cuenca, highlighted the commitment the current administration has to contributing to reducing the number of […]

Read More…

Victims of abuse are starting to break the silence in which they have been submerged for several years. The director of the Cuenca-Sur District, María Fernanda Jervez, says that the First Reception Room that works at the Carlos Elizalde Maternal and Child Hospital, registered an increase in complaints of violence this year, compared to last year. Though 2019 is not over yet, 182 notifications of abuse have already been counted in the Prosecutor’s Office and in the Cantonal Board for the Protection of Rights; all of last year 189 complaints were registered. For Jervez, this reflects that the victims of violence, be they women, […]

Read More…

The Sexual and Reproductive Health Network (RED SEX) and the Municipal GAD of Cuenca, presented a campaign to students last week to prevent teenage pregnancy. The program was attended by students from different Cuenca schools, who learned about the activities that will be carried out throughout the campaign. As part of the event, the young people received different methods of protection and were told of help they can receive to prevent an unwanted pregnancy. Mery Cabrera, director of the Sendas Foundation, explained that actions in favor of preventing teenage pregnancy mean contributing directly to the social development of women. “Preventing a […]

Read More…

The Ministry of the Environment, through the Provincial Directorate of Azuay, National Reforestation Program and Environmental and Social Reparation Program, with the support of private companies and public institutions developed a reforestation day in the Mishquiyacu hill, as part of the “Plant your tree, sow life” campaign. This activity was attended by more than 250 people including students of educational units of Paute, Catholic University of Cuenca, Salesian Polytechnic University, Autonomous Decentralized Municipal Government of Paute, Political Headquarters of the canton, Political Tenure of San Cristóbal and El Cabo, Body of Firefighters, Armed Forces and delegates of public and private […]

Read More…