It was obvious from the very beginning of our work in the community that one of the crucial problems amongst our neighbors was their nutritional standard. It is not a mystery that poor countries suffer a high degree of child malnourishment.
From the very beginning we sought to provide children a regular source of nutrients. First, we planned to provide a nutritious meal to children coming or going to school before or after our regular school reinforcement programs. After graduating from Nurses School, Carmen Parraga, one of our young Bolivian church members, was able to start upgrading this program and provide new plan to support the physical development of children with immunization, deworming and vitamins.
Our nurse committed herself to provide basic health services to our children and their families and eventually extended these services into the community by signing agreements with the local health authorities to provide access to families and national health campaigns promoting regular immunization and preventive health education to parents and teachers in typical areas of need in third world countries.
The health program provides education in First Aid to our students and regular health conferences to their parents. It also supervises regularly the child physical development by providing to students access to medical services by signing cooperation agreements with other health institutions.
Dr. Irma Salvatierra giving dental care
La Palmera CCC Health Program is now developing its own strategic plan that includes looking after the school nutritional program, supervising the quality of the diet developed for our school children, as well as participating in the school curricula by assisting in the design of themes for health and sexual education of students, parents and lecturing in the classrooms.
*Note that the health center run by Dr. Diego Santana is now independent of this health program, is part of a separate foundation and is no longer affiliated with La Palmera CCC. We apologize for any confusion.