Health

Access to quality health care is a key piece in any approach to development, and especially for organizations like MPI, which utilize a holistic approach to community development.  In Ecuador, access to health care is varies greatly, while access to information about health care, particularly preventative health care, is 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 preventative, we maintain close contact with the MoH.  Through this contact, we are able to shadow local physicians, actively participate in informational sessions, and receive advice and guidance in anything health-related.

Women's Exercise Class
Women's Exercise meets three times weekly in the large space above the library.  The class promotes a healthy lifestyle through various types of exercise including tai qi, aerobics, stength circuits, yoga and pilates.  Program Directors measure blood pressure, weight, and resting heart rate weekly in order to track the improving health of the women.  Additionally, weekly health seminars spread information about nutrition, health care, and hygiene at the family level.

Aliñambi School - Nutrition Program
Aliñambi is a residential school in the valley and has roughly 130 students.  Aliñambi is interested in running a nutrition pilot program with the help of MPI and another US-based non-profit, Healthechildren.  After taking basic measurements on all of the students, PDs are helping to design and oversee the program and its implementation.  If successful, we hope to start similar programs in other elementary schools and communities throughout the valley.

Preventative Health Clinic
Access to preventative health information is sparse in our communities.  We have rapidly developing plans to open a preventative health clinic that will help tie our work together with that of other health care providers in the valley.  We plan to offer extensive information on a wealth of topics from nutrition to specialty physician locations.  In time, we hope that our preventative clinic will act as an health information hub for the residents of our communities.