Welcome to Nueva Salud

Priorities

    Priorities established for San Antonio...

Dr. Cheren and the village leaders agreed on the following priorities:

   Well-designed and appropriate latrines—plus instruction on hygiene—together
      crucial to cut down on parasites and the spread of infection;

   Concrete, fuel-efficient stoves with chimneys, to eliminate the conjunctivitis,
      respiratory problems, and other results of breathing dense smoke in the house,
      as well as serious burns from the current open fires;

   A basic clinical laboratory—with solar panel and core equipment, which will enable
      caregivers to arrive at timely diagnoses and treat appropriately;

   Intensive training for the nurse and health promoters, as well as lab personnel, so
      they are indeed able to deliver health care;

   Family planning, so that the women's bodies are not wasted by giving birth to eight to
      ten children, who will need to divide the limited family property;

   An emergency air evacuation fund to be tapped if swift travel to a hospital is
      essential to save an individual's life or well-being.

Villagers will supply the necessary construction labor and deliver care. And an appropriate candidate from the village will be trained as on-site project manager. This collaborative approach means that, with a relatively modest outside investment of capital, dramatic benefits can be instituted and thereafter sustained.

Clearly it will be imperative for Nueva Salud to develop and use measurement tools for judging success, and also to oversee the administration of the project and the project's resources over the long term.