Notes from the Field – Page 7

Results Demonstrate Self-Development

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.

Tis the Season for Good News!

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.

Promotora Graduate Profile: Juana

Juana ((left) next to Paty Garibay) stood out to the PMC brigade as a remarkable student in her promotora classes. Though she lives in a small village miles from El Salvador, Juana walked the distance and arrived on time every day to complete her coursework. The doctors instructing her were amazed at her diligence and perseverance, totally committed to mastering each and every skill.

Quite a spitfire, with moist eyes, Juana grabbed the mic near the end of the graduation ceremony so that she could express gratitude on behalf of the promotoras to Tia, PMC and the Municipality.

Here is Juana with Laura, clutching her book, Donde No Hay Doctor (Where there is no Doctor) and her framed diploma. Right after this photo was taken, Juana explained with tears in her eyes how much Tia’s program will to her small village. Villagers had to walk for hours to see a doctor. Juana is so grateful that she now has the skills and materials needed to care for her neighbors. She told Laura to be sure to thank the donors, who she believes cannot possibly know how life-changing their contributions have been.

Juana is right! Even small donations, to cover the cost of first aid supplies, have a tremendous impact on the lives of these poorest of the poor in rural Mexico.

Graduation Day in El Salvador, Jalisco

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.

Preparing the medical kits

Whenever possible, Tia buys their medical supplies in bulk. Before a new project launch, we must count out and divide all the items. Bandages, sterile gloves, masks, IV bottles, syringes, cotton, rehydration solution, manual respirators, anti-spider and scorpion venom, alcohol and the medicines shown above, are expected to last about a year before they need to be replenished.