CMMB Launches the “New Opportunities for Children and Seniors in Healthy Families” Project in C.P Huari
On Friday, March 3rd 2017, in the Provincial Municipality of Huancayo’s Auditorium, Catholic Medical Mission Board (CMMB) in Peru, and its Huancayo team, presented the project; “New Opportunities: Girls, Children, and Seniors in Healthy Families – CMMB Peru.”
Maria Isabel Palomino, New Opportunities Project Coordinator, noted that this project aims to contribute to an improved situation for children under the age of 5, school children and elderly people living in vulnerable conditions in Huari Village Center in the Huancan district.
The Project, which will be developed with the support of Presence Health and in close partnership with the Sisters Servants of Holy Heart of Mary, was presented to local government and health authorities and a wide audience, including local media and social actors of the district of Huancan.
With this new initiative CMMB Huancayo professionals will strengthen its relationship with Chilca and Huancan community families, in close coordination with local health teams, to promote health and development opportunities, through CMMB ‘s three core initiatives “Rehabilitation with Hope”, “Taking Care of Your Health along your first Thousand Days” and now, “New Opportunities”.
Committed mother Mariluz Sanchez and her son Benjamin who has disabilities. He is part of our Rehabilitation with Hope project.
CMMB’s local coordinator, Astrid Ponce, mentioned that, based on successful experience within the district of Chilca, more than 370 families are adopting healthy lifestyles, self-care practices, and assuming the responsibility of developing new skills that will benefit their families.
Thanks to CMMB initiatives, many women developed new skills and have now become part of the volunteer team of health promoters who teach what they have learned to other mothers within the community.
As a product of CMMB intervention at La Esperanza village, anemia was reduced by 32% amongst children under 5 years old. Additionally, women increased the demand for giving birth at the health facilities, to prevent maternal and newborn mortality. Additionally, families began to access their free, comprehensive health insurance, as well as adapting their homes into healthy prototypes, including water and sanitation and implementing micro-productive initiatives.