The Shuar Indian Medical Project was more than one year in development with planning coordinated
by Dr. Herb Sigmond and with the assistance from Elliot Taikeff, Indian native rights attorney.
Drs. Herb Sigmond and Michael Mouri based their project in Mazola, a rural village on the eastern slope of the Andes. Father Damien established a church, health clinic and school for approximately 80 families
Frustrated in his repeated efforts over 38 years to have the government provide a physician, Father Damien took a brief hiatus and returned to his native Belgium to complete nursing studies. His prayers were answered in 1994 when Mazola received their first government physician on national service. Unfortunately, the government sent a recent medical school graduate who lacked tropical medicine training, medical and surgical sophistication for the demands placed on him in trying to serve 500 square miles of jungle and the numerous Shuar Indian villages within that area.
Medicine International (MI) was of assistance by upgrading this young doctor's medical and surgical skills. In addition, substantial quantities of medicines, surgical supplies, and instruments were donated.
Drs. Sigmond and Mouri traveled by foot and river to a number of distant Shuar villages bringing health care to areas where health care was nonexistent.
A typhoid fever epidemic was prevented after the diagnosis of three cases in one village by early treatment and by establishing effective quarantine measures. Positive changes were made in sanitation and food handling.