Public Health Otoro

We decided to start a sustainable project involving the youth of Otóro by organizing entertaining and educational workshops involving a variety of health topics. Our aim is to confront these health issues while using culturally sensitive methods and also emphasizing community involvement. There is a collective fund-raising effort taking place in Otóro as a result of the relationships that we established in the community. Employees of the Health Center are unable to handle funds that are raised due to municipal law. Therefore, we have established an adult support committee with the collaboration of the non-profit organization PLAN International and the Mayor of Jesus de Otóro. This official committee has a President, Vice President, and Treasurer. They are determining goals for the health center on a monthly basis, and will be processing all of the funds raised. They will be holding fund-raising events consistently in order to meet these goals. Also, this committee has established an account at West Union Bank specifically for the benefit of the health center. All external aid will be sent to this account. As an equally important aspect of the project, a youth support group has been created. Youth members in Otóro work diligently to raise funds and improve the conditions of the health center, holding ticketed movie nights and bake sales. They also have organized a schedule in which each member will be working in the local elementary schools to educate children about nutrition, disease prevention, and water purification. These educational workshops are always pre-approved through the school. Through my collaboration with the two support committees, I have compiled a list of specific goals for the project. All of the materials serve to implement educational and preventative techniques in order to reduce disease infection rates within Otóro. Firstly, the production of health pamphlets is essential. They will explain topics of Chagas disease, Dengue Fever, Malaria, Sexual Health, and Balanced Nutrition. These pamphlets will be displayed at the health center and made available to the general public. Funds will also be used to enhance sanitation and supplies in the health center. Specifically, community members hope to replace latrines and benches, fix the roof, install a ventilation system and increase the medicine stock. As for the youth department of the health center, savings will allow the project to supply a computer, copier machine, and basic office supplies in support of health education. Back in the U.S., Maggie, Sam and I will be continuing with fund-raising efforts. We will also be holding supply drives and sending raised earnings directly to the health center account that was mentioned earlier. All of these efforts have the ultimate goal of reaching sustainable health education in Jesus de Otóro. I believe that through collaboration, we can make this goal a reality. We have established an international bond, and I now have many relationships with community members in Otóro. Although I have already seen many improvements as a result of these efforts, I know that I can not do this alone. Assistance from outside organizations such as DoSomething is essential to the success of this project, and the empowerment of the youth in Otóro. I know that we can change the lives of children of Otóro. The future of public health in Otóro relies on the education of youth.