Introduction​

In April 2017, we made our first trip out to the Guajira in order to perform a needs assessment at several villages in La Guajira. We were welcomed by faculty and students from the University of the Guajira and we spent 3 days  visiting at least 8 villages and talking to their leaders. While the main issue was children dying from malnutrition their problem was exacerbated by their lack of drinking water. The area had been in full drought. They showed us their dried up and nearly dried up water collection ponds or jaguey. Some villages had their own wells but the water was so salty the animals wouldn't drink it and it was difficult to grow crops. Most villagers had to walk several miles to find good clean water. As we were leaving one of the villages, I noticed there was a lot of cactus growing wildly along the path. I asked one of the women if they ate the cactus. She laughed at me and said only cows eat that. I told her that in Mexico they eat a lot of cactus, and she asked if we could teach her how to prepare it. After we left the Guajira we stopped in Valledupar where I taught a public health class to local safety and health professionals.

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