Obesity is a major problem in the world, in the city of Tarija more than 5% of the population suffers from it and it is on the rise, especially in children. Unfortunately, it is not a priority because people with chronic disease do not die immediately, but live a poor […]
Health Classes Get Miguel Back On His Own Two Feet
When his wife died a year ago, Miguel and his children were devastated. And it would be tough enough to become a widowed father — but Miguel’s health was precarious. He was overweight … pre-diabetic … with high cholesterol and high blood pressure. He was going to need heart bypass […]
Leonel’s Battle with Chronic Malnutrition
According to UNICEF numbers from 2019, nearly half of all deaths in children under 5 are attributable to undernutrition; undernutrition puts children at greater risk of dying from common infections, increases the frequency and severity of such infections, and delays recovery.Leonel was almost a part of this statistic.Six months ago, […]
Everything You Need to Know About National Health Education Week
Most of us try to live healthier lives, but we don’t always know how.That’s why health education is so important. Communities with strong health education services have fewer chronic illnesses and lower rates of obesity and substance abuse.So we are joining together to celebrate National Health Education Week from October […]
Hunger and HIV Becomes a Near-Lethal Combination in Mozambique
Until you have watched your child die …Until you have lived in a one-room house, sharing a single latrine with four other families …Until your children’s father dies, and you struggle to feed them by selling candy and matchbooks on the street …You can’t understand what Gilda has gone through.Gilda […]
Sanitation is Only Step One For the Zimila Family
The household of Flora Agostinho Zimila has 8 members. Looking at this family’s living conditions a few months ago would surprise you… Esperança’s Community Health Activists witnessed some hard conditions upon their initial visit to Flora’s home. They did not have a “tarimba” (for lack of a Portuguese word to […]
March 24th – American Diabetes Alert Day
By Jeri Royce, President & CEO There is much uncertainty and concern in our world today about COVID-19. One thing we are not uncertain about is the impact and seriousness of diabetes on the American public broadly, and specifically on the communities in which Esperança serves. Diabetes impacts approximately 34.2 […]
Preventing Disease as a Family
Mery Rodríguez is a 60 year-old participant in the workshops. She lives with her oldest daughter who has two children of her own. Mery worked all her life selling food and soft drinks at a street stand. Her diet consisted of noodles, rice, meat, and potatoes, all with a lot […]
National Rural Health Day
By Emiliano Espino, Community Health EducatorIn the healthcare field and the disparities therein, we are constantly talking about how to improve the delivery of health services. Unfortunately, policy and services are focused mainly on the improvement of these amenities in urban areas and cities. Too often are those in rural […]
Going Blue for World Diabetes Day
By Jazmin Hernandez, Community Health Educator The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) recognizes November 14th as World Diabetes Day, and the focus for 2019 is Family and Diabetes. According to the IDF, 1 in 11 people are living with diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is the most prevalent form of the condition, […]