ABERDEEN GUYANA RESEARCH 2015
Students at University of Aberdeen and the University of Guyana
have a question
How is Westernisation affecting the Amerindian communities in Guyana
In answering it we hope to form a long lasting friendship and support change in both countries...
Together the joint team of students will be investigating the effects of westernisation on Guyanas indiginous Amerindian people. We will assess the health impact of western diet and lifestyle by taking readings from Amerindians residing in the city of Georgetown, and comparing those results to non-Amerindian Guyanese and Amerindians still living in the jungle. This will involve a 6 week expedition into Guyana's jungle region, known as 'The Interior' to meet with several
Is there an increased health risk posed by western lifestyles to Amerindian Guyanese compared to non-Amerindian Guyanese?
1
What is the current understanding and attitude towards factors known to influence obesity in women between 18-50Y/O in Guyanese populations?
2
What medical facilities are available within the Interior and what is the attitude of the Amerindian population to healthcare?
3
Key questions
This is a pilot project directed and planned by students from medical schools in Aberdeen and Guyana. It is driven by a shared concern that as lifestyle related disease epidemics threaten the future health of all, and in particular the health of vulnerable populations such as the Amerindian peoples. We want to understand what is driving their lifestyle choices, how these choices are affecting them, and morst importantly we hope to learn if anything can be done to prevent NCD epidemics in the future.
The Project Overview.
Medical School Aberdeen
Library Georgetown
We will assess the health impact of western diet and lifestyle by taking readings from Amerindians residing in the city of Georgetown, and comparing those results to non-Amerindian Guyanese and Amerindians still living in the jungle. This will involve a 6 week expedition into Guyana's jungle region, known as 'The Interior' to meet with several Amerindian tribes
Despite the richness of opportunity within Guyana, its incredibly variable demographic and unique environment this will be the first international biomedical research carried out in this country and we hope that through this research and the documentary we are making with the students will promote sustainable ethical research that the country will eventually be able to conduct itself.
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If you would like to email us go to our contact us page.
If you would like to send us a letter our address is:
111 Westburn Drive,
Aberdeen
Scotland
United Kingdom
AB25 2BU
Sadly at this moment we cannot accept carrier pidgeons or post-owls but we will let you know if this changes!
Click the button above if you wish to support our expedition with a monetary donation!
What, why, where and how?
What has been going on?
Check out our up-to-date blog for all the information about what we have been doing and what the current challenges we are trying to overcome are
Where we will be going?
Guyana is located on the Caribbean coast of South America bordering Suriname, Brazil and Venezuela
If you want to find out more about this amazing country and learn some interesting facts then click the map above
How are we going to do this?
The project has been carefully designed with input from professors at both the University of Aberdeen and Guyana to ensure that we maximise the positive impact of the project, that it is ethical and culturally sensitive. For more information on how we will be carrying out the research, click below