By Jaime Muñoz | Asofenix, Nicaragua
Alba Luz Cisneros stands beside her new improved stove. Photo courtesy of Asofenix.
April 7 is World Health Day, and it is a day when we recognize that there is lot of inequality in global health. This has perhaps never been as apparent as during the Covid-19 pandemic. We see that some people are able to live relatively healthy lives, while others live in places that lack access to adequate health care and expose populations to environments and conditions that create disease.
In the rural sector of Nicaragua, families face various socioeconomic problems that have a direct impact on their health and living conditions daily. Contaminated water, food insecurity, and poor sanitation cause many diseases that affect the development of the whole family.
Asofenix, a partner of the Presbyterian Hunger Program (PHP), works to improve the living conditions of rural populations in Nicaragua using renewable energy sources, practicing the proper use of natural resources, and promoting sustainable agriculture with a community focus. Consequently, with this objective and with the support of PHP for several years, we have managed to implement initiatives aimed at satisfying basic human needs that contribute to improving the health and living conditions of families residing in rural communities located in the central region of Nicaragua.
In these communities, people have better health conditions thanks to the initiatives carried out by Asofénix, with funds from PHP. The families recognize Asofenix’s work and thank PHP for providing funds to improve their lives.
Among the projects carried out jointly by Asofenix and PHP, the following stand out:
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A student holds the gourds that he harvested from the school garden. Photo courtesy of Asofenix.
Expansion of the drinking water system in the El Bálsamo community: Through this project, access to drinking water services was guaranteed to all families in the community. Today people have access to water every day and good quality water. People feel safe and satisfied with better water quality.
- Improved stoves: through this project, improved stoves were built that reduce the incidence of health effects caused by smoke inhalations in families. Many women have better health at home because they are no longer exposed to hours of heavy smoke while cooking.
- Family gardens: women grow vegetables on a small scale in the backyards of their homes, which improve food security conditions, and the health of families. Now they have access to a diversity of foods that are more nutritious.
- Improving hygienic, sanitary and health conditions in 5 rural schools in the Municipality of Teustepe: this project has made it possible to improve the conditions in the schools so that children, teachers, and parents apply the appropriate sanitary measures to prevent the spread of COVID 19. The project allowed the proper installation of water systems in schools, installation of sinks, rehabilitation of latrines, installation of garbage deposits. In this initiative, the use of natural alternative medicine has also been promoted by promoting the cultivation of medicinal plants in the school garden. The development of these initiatives allows a healthier environment in the communities and provides the conditions for families to be prepared to face health problems related to COVID 19.
All the projects that PHP has supported through Asofenix over the years have helped in important ways to improve livelihoods and the overall health of the communities.
The work of the Presbyterian Hunger Program is possible thanks to your gifts to One Great Hour of Sharing.