Last Saturday, (January 12th), we conducted our 3 Month Follow Up Study of the communities near Ojuelos, Jalisco. Patricia Garibay (right) and her son, Julio Garibay Hernandez, interviewed Promotoras (Community Health Workers) and residents to check on their progress and needs. Already, we saw signs of self development.

The Promotoras had begun to organize themselves and were sharing supplies and knowledge with each other. In one village with four Promotoras, the women met together in a group and divided the village into four zones, with each taking responsibility for a zone.

They also have been consulting with each other on cases and sharing medicines and bandages. These are all strong indicators of self development taking place, which ensures our projects will be sustainable.

Thanks to our generous donors, in 2007, Tia has trained 53 new community health workers, serving over 15,000 people!

The 28 community health workers from El Salvador, Jalisco, Mexico are the newest graduates. With the help of Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara’s Community Medicine Program, hundreds of people have received medical care this year.

Fifteen thousand people now have the ability to care for all but their most serious health problems. In 2008 with more funding, Tia hopes to more than double the number of people we are currently serving.

Laura gives a congratulatory kiss after handing a promotora her framed diploma in a large ceremony in El Salvador, Jalisco. The Tequila Municipal President stands to the left of Laura, while Dr. Francisco Rico is on the right.

The promotoras sit together during the ceremony. In the background, you can see PMC’s Mobile Medical Unit, which contains medical equipment and two examination rooms.