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Maternal And Child Health
A major focus of W/NP continues to be in the maternal and child health area. In conjunction with other nongovernmental organizations within a created federation entitled NicaSalud, W/NP continued maternal and child health programs in the Jinotega area and initiated similar programs in the Cardenas region, near the Costa Rican border, during the project period of January to December, 2003. The Nicaraguan Ministry of Health designated the Jinotega area in the northern region and the Cardenas area in the southern region of Nicaragua as having the highest infant and maternal mortality and morbidity rates in the country. W/NP health programs seek to change behaviors as the training team addresses the challenges of improving health among children under the age of five and women of childbearing age. Monthly training workshops are conducted by field staff, including three technical project team members, working closely with brigidistas (volunteer health workers) and parteras (midwives), a dedicated group of community volunteers motivated by the desire to improve the health of their neighborhoods. The community based training approach focuses on seven intervention areas: breastfeeding, infectious diseases, i.e. diarrhea and respiratory infections, in children under two years, immunization, nutrition/growth, prenatal care, family planning, and reproductive health.
The projects supported a network of Casas Bases and UROCs that serve as the first link in the chain of community health services. W/NP would like to express our thanks to those brigidistas and parteras who have offered their homes as a base house. Casas Bases supplies, including the critical oral rehydration solution, are located in a corner of each humble family home dedicated to these projects. The centrally located base home serves as a gathering point for training, to discuss health problems, or to seek help, including oral rehydration therapy for children.
Executed in 2002, another initiative in the area of reproductive health was the Project to Improve Community Response to Obstetric and Neonatal Emergencies and Unsatisfied Needs for Family Planning. This project was coordinated by PRIME Nicaragua and received support from the NicaSalud office. Results from this initiative included preparation of the Protocol for Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care with the aid of hospital personnel, implementation of the Childbirth Plan, and organization of emergency committees. In order to execute the projects, coordination was established with MINSA at the municipal and health unit levels so as to ensure completion of the project's stated objectives.
Family Planning
Funding from Partners of the Americas, Inc. provided support for additional emphasis on sexual and reproductive health training. Contrary to popular assumptions, community assessments have shown repeatedly that men and women are interested in family planning. The training workshops teach the importance of child spacing and where to access supplies needed for the type of planning they have chosen.
Poultry Project
This substance project provides training in poultry production as well as provision of six hens and a rooster to selected families. Results are inclusion of much needed nutritional protein in the family diet and supplementary income from the sale of eggs. Donations of $75 per flock from Wisconsin volunteers facilitate the purchase of poultry, fencing, and feed concentrates and support a poultry care training program. After one year, each family provides a similar flock of chickens to another family.
CICO Child Feeding And Training Centers
A CICO is a day care program for three to five year old children providing a daily, well balanced meal as well as training for their parents in child development and nutrition.
Eyeglass Missions
Good vision is a health benefit often taken for granted in the developed world, but for those in need with no means for correction, this deficiency is critically necessary. Eyeglass mission volunteers report that the most difficult part of this rewarding experience is that at day's end, scores of people are still waiting in line, hoping for assistance. W/NP wishes to thank the Wisconsin Lions Clubs for their generous donation of hundreds of pairs of eyeglasses.
Kitchen Gardens
Wisconsin volunteers, working with the W/NP Agriculture/Natural Resources Committee introduced the square meter gardening concept as they "trained the trainers." The trainees in the project are health promoters and brigidistas who assist community members in location of gardens, composting, species selection, maintenance of crops, and pest control. Results were nutritious food for the family as well as income from the sale of fruits and vegetables.
Stove Pipe Project
To improve the respiratory health of women and children, promoters and brigidistas train community members regarding the importance of removing cooking smoke from the kitchen through the use of chimneys. Community members are trained in the construction and installation of stovepipes and the importance of clean air throughout the home.
Vitamin A
This vision promotion project, in collaboration with Wisconsin Lions Clubs, Direct Relief International, and the Nicaraguan Ministry of Health, purchases and distributes two vitamin A capsules per year to children throughout the country of Nicaragua. This dietary supplement dose is sufficient to provide the minimum annual requirement for a child under the age of ten.
Statistics
Beneficiary Population
· Communities: 10
· Children Under Two Years: 358
· Children From Two to Five Years: 400
· Mothers: 436
Eyeglass Mission - Acoyapa
· Eyeglasses Dispensed: 1226
Vitamin A
· Capsules Distributed: 450,000
Medical Supplies
· Hospital Beds: 30
· Exam Tables: 12
· Gurneys: 07
Stove Pipe Project
· Stove Pipes Installed: 20
· Number Trained in Installation: 21
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