Health

Access to quality health care is a key piece of any approach to development, especially for organizations like MPI that utilize a holistic approach to community development.  In Ecuador, access to health care services varies greatly, while access to information about health care, particularly preventive health care, is consistently severely lacking.

Relationship with the Ministry of Health (MoH)

In the Chillos Valley there are a number of public and private clinics, in addition to a larger public hospital in Sangolquí, which provide a wide array of clinical care.  Although MPI's role in health care is primarily preventive, we maintain close contact with the MoH.  Through this contact, we are able to shadow local physicians, actively participate in informational sessions, receive advice and guidance in anything health-related, as well as improve our understanding of the country’s health care system and how to access it.  This knowledge is what we strive to take back to our community members.

Women's Exercise Class

Women's Exercise meets five times weekly in the large space on the second floor above the library.  The class promotes a healthy lifestyle through various types of exercise including kickboxing, step-aerobics, strength circuits, weight training, yoga, and zumba. The program gives local women a place to meet each other, take a break from their busy schedules, learn healthy exercise practices, and relieve stress.

Children’s Nutrition Class

Program Directors visit local elementary schools and give weekly nutrition charlas to different grade levels. The charlas discuss the importance of healthy eating habits and the role that food plays in overall health. The PDs also teach the importance of physical activity by incorporating nutrition related games into each lesson.

Adult Nutrition and Cooking class

The adult nutrition and cooking class meets for an hour and a half every week on Saturday. The class begins with a discussion on preventative health measures through healthy eating habits. Each week’s discussion is designed to address common health issues and nutrition problems common to the region. In each class the participants make a different healthy recipe with ingredients that are cheap and readily available in the area. Participants get to eat the food they prepared in class and bring the recipe home to use with their families.