Health
Community health projects target the rural populations of Nicaragua where 95% of the population does not have access to basic infrastructure including potable water, electricity, or health facilities. For rural women in these communities, at least ten hours of their day is dedicated solely to cooking, hauling water, and washing clothes. Each of these activities has serious health, economic and empowerment implications for the entire family, but especially for women and children.
Cooking over open wood burning stoves is the primary cause of respiratory illness among women and children who spend hours inside smoke filled kitchens. In addition to the physical stress of hauling water long distances, the water is not purified causing dysentery and other water borne illnesses. Higher rates of illness mean more money and time spent on doctor’s visits and medicine. Time spent doing domestic labor is time that women cannot spend becoming economically independent or working as leaders in their communities.
Building a smoke reducing stove, installing a potable water system for a family, using a water filter and providing public health education are some of the simple yet high impact projects that Bridges is implementing with families in rural communities in Nicaragua. Now money once spent on medical bills can be invested in a child’s education. With more time to spare and better health, women have greater opportunities to contribute to the economic development of their families or get involved in leadership activities in their community.
Program Goals:
- Reduce the most common and severe illnesses including, water borne diseases, dysentery, malnutrition and respiratory diseases, primarily in women and children.
- Increase the amount of free time women have to participate in local leadership and economic activities (decrease time cooking, hauling water, etc).
- Increase access to medical care.
- Increase public health knowledge and skills.
