Since
1987 MAMA Project has been working in Honduras. We have
grown through the years and have been able to help MANY people
in Honduras. Here's a look at some of the work that is
done in Honduras.
Health/ Hygiene
Education
This is done at both
the village level, and also at our Nutriton Center
in Honduras. We have developed many of our own materials,
and also use material from the
Ministry of Health of Honduras, the Hesperian Foundation (e.g. "Where
There is No Doctor"), and others.
Medical, Dental
and Construction Brigades
We promote
preventive rather than
curative medicine in our medical contacts with the
communities.
To prepare our
teams for the experience, we offer team
orientations. It is important for volunteers
to cultivate a perspective on service that is not
centered on themselves and their needs, but is truly geared to
the needs and desires of the people that we are
serving. Of course, as visiting foreigners, we are
always in for many surprises, but spending time preparing
our minds and hearts to become truly humble and open is
an important part of becoming good partners in this
work of love.
Deworming and
Vitamin A Promotion
Intestinal parasites cause an
enormous degree of suffering on a worldwide scale in
developing countries. Honduras is a prime example.
Deworming children promotes growth, and allows them to be more
successful in school. The cost is low (about 5
cents per dose) and the "cure" lasts for 6
months. We follow the Mininstry of Health Protocol,
using Albendazol. Vitamin A deficiency is a major cause
of blindness in Honduras. Less well-known is the role
that Vitamin A deficiency plays in creating an
immune-deficiency state in malnourished children, leading to
tremendous susceptibility to infectious disease. The
role of community education cannot be overstated, but
for the short-term, many programs, including MAMA
Project, have found the distribution of mega-dose (200,000 IU)
Vitamin A capsules to be an important intervention in saving
the sight and life of many children.
Donated Medicines and
Medical Equipment & Supplies
MAMA obtains and ships valuable medical resources to be used
for the benefit of poor families. We have a
network of clinics and hospitals that we know
will use the material donations appropriately.
Nutritional
Rehabilitation
Center
A haven for families with
children suffering from malnutrition. Education of the mother is a cornerstone
of thie
program
Health Volunteer Training
Seminars
Equip volunteers to address
malnutrition and basic common illnesses in the
community, advocacy for Vitamin A, deworming, and
addressing micronutrient malnutrition on all
levels.
