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| Donate - Improved Housing |
Gisela and Jose live in Cochabamba, Bolivia. They are married and have four young children. Jose was given a small plot of land from his father when he passed away. Unfortunately, his older brother was given the more fertile land. They struggle to feed their growing family.Like their neighbors, families and friends, this young family lives in a traditional Bolivian-style home with hard-swept earth floor, mud walls and a thatch roof. A small fire burns in a ring on the floor of the kitchen, keeping the home warm and heating their afternoon meal. |
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When the family of six falls asleep at night, they breathe in the smoke of the day’s fire. It has been a lucky day if someone has not been burned by one of the flames. They rest under the thatch roof, huddling close together to stay warm. Reduviid bugs, which are nocturnal, crawl out from the thatch and down the mud walls. Although their bite is seemingly painless, the parasite they transmit is fatal. Chagas disease -- the leading cause of heart disease in South America – is caused by this parasite. Those living in traditional Bolivian-style homes are at risk. A few adjustments to their living conditions can protect them from Cholera, lung disease, burns and Chagas disease. |
| An Esperança community health worker examines Gisela and Jose’s house. After an assessment is conducted, Jose is asked to gather several of his strong friends. Together they dig a latrine behind the family’s home and learn the importance of hand washing to prevent sickness. They replace the thatch roof with concrete tiles. Finally, the family learns to build a small indoor stove where they can keep their fire burning without worrying about their children falling into the flames. |
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