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DBPeru is a healthcare charity – a 501c3 organization in the US and an NGO in Peru. Founded in 2003, our mission is to improve the healthcare knowledge and conditions for the people in the remote jungle communities on the Napo River, decreasing the need for the people to leave their villages, families and homes for children in other areas of Peru. In the jungle some people must travel 8-16 hours by paddling a canoe to the nearest clinic. DB Peru brings basic healthcare to them.

We accomplish our goals by the routine delivery of medicines and supplies, by providing educational classes for the midwives and lay healthcare promotores, by bringing doctors and nurses to the villages and to provide treatment and care and by improving communication with the installation of radios,antennas and solar panels.

But, who are we? And, how did we begin?

Our work actually started before we became a charity. I came to Peru in 2001 as a tourist. After my second visit that same year, I was touched by the people in the jungle and decided that I wanted to do something to help. But, how did my experience and needs fit? Healthcare was the logical choice, as I have an MBA, am an RN and worked in hospital administration for over 20 years.

Getting started was not so easy. My first venture was with a woman in Iquitos who I found on the internet. She supposedly did dolphin research up the Amazon at a lodge which had a clinic on the premises. The 6 hour boat ride she promised turned into a 16 hour ride. I found myself staying at a lodge in shambles with no evidence of dolphin research and only a caretaker on site. After receiving more than 100 bites the first week from spiders in the mattress, I found my way back to Iquitos, in a rather miserable condition, certainly not having accomplished much good.

I then turned to a guide from Explorama Lodges, who introduced me to the administrator of the clinic in Mazan. I returned 4 times that year to work in the clinic – they couldn't speak Spanish and mine wasn't much better but we managed. Many people from the original staff that I worked with are still friends today.

Some of my favorite memories include people I've met along the way. Obstetriz Wilder Vasquez. and I chaperoned 10 teenagers to a 2-day seminar on domestic violence….we met up with teenagers from 4 other villages… spent 2 days listening to lectures and 2 evenings listening to music as the boys played traditional musical instruments while the girls danced native dances. It was truly a magical experience.

I liked the work in Mazán, but I felt I could be doing more and approached another guide, Raul Pettit, who told me that the villages on the lowerNapo River were quite needy. Together we visited 6 villages, holding public forums and asking about their healthcare needs and problems. That is where the mission for DB Peru became clear… healthcare access would be the primary focus.

Today, as we leave villages people wave, saying “Please don't forget us.” And we haven't. After 6 years and more than 20 trips we've seen changes and made changes and lived through the times of their lives as well as their own.

We will continue to follow the progress of DB Peru as Diane Bowie will contribute articles periodically to ACAP Magazine.