Health Promotion, Training, and Citizen Participation.

Fundación San Lucas-FSL

Justification.

In the mountainous regions of the Southern zone of Cochabamba municipality, belts of extreme poverty are formed due to the excessive settlements of rural migrants from Potosí, La Paz, Oruro, and depressed municipalities in Cochabamba.

This area, encompassing districts 8, 9, 13, and 14, is the most deprived in Cochabamba municipality, where up to 40% of household income is spent on purchasing water, and there is a high incidence of child malnutrition, school dropout, teenage mothers, alcohol consumption, gang formation, domestic violence, among other issues. Unfortunately, in these districts, due to the lack of resources, opportunities, and government services, communities have little possibility of receiving holistic healthcare that considers the patient as a whole and provides a multisystemic intervention for their recovery. Moreover, they face challenges in accessing both public and private Western healthcare systems. Hence, the services provided by Fundación San Lucas have remained essential over the years to address these healthcare gaps.

Location

Eight communities in the peri-urban area of Cochabamba (South zone), Bolivia.

Local Partner

Fundación San Lucas

Objectives

General Objective: Improve the quality of personal, family, and community life in 8 marginalized peri-urban communities in Districts South 8, 9, 13, and 14 of Cochabamba by providing comprehensive psychosocial and healthcare support.

Specific Objective:

  1. Empowerment and recognition of personal, family, and community transformation with a focus on women’s protagonism.
  2. Enhance the teaching and learning process for children and adolescents, promoting habits and behaviors that foster a culture of life, health, family, and ecology.
  3. Provide psychological, social, medical, and dental care through scheduled periodic consultations in the communities.

Target Population

(Children, youth, women, and men).

Project duration

Budget

Funding

TAU (40.000€)

Activities:

Community Strengthening:

  • Signing agreements.
  • Workshops.
  • Ongoing training for health promoters.

Mental Health Protection:

WOMEN

  • 10 workshops for 120 women from 8 groups.
  • Training in crafts or baking and preparation of traditional medicine.
  • 1st Fair of Skills, Ancestral Medicine, Traditional Foods, and selection of “Ñustas” (Women who stand out in each community for their commitment to life, family, and community).
  • Annual sports gathering among 8 communities.
  • Monthly self-help groups.
  • Zumba, exercises, relaxation games, physiotherapy.
  • Support in 5 community women’s stores for internal control and resource management.
  • Early stimulation and parenting support for pregnant women with the help of peace promoters.

CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS                                   

  • Bi-weekly workshops.
  • Recreational activities in 8 communities.
  • Monthly school support.
  • Bi-monthly workshops for young people.
  • 2-day gatherings “Discovering the Values of the Countryside” between young people from peri-urban marginalized communities and young people from rural communities.

MEN

  • 4 workshops for information and reflection.
    Soccer championships in each community with prior dental medical check-up.
    Annual inter-community championship.

Healthcare in Communities:                   

    • Bi-weekly medical consultation in 8 communities.
    • Bi-weekly dental consultation in 8 communities.
    • Psychological support in 8 communities.
    • 2 physiotherapy campaigns in 8 communities.
    • Health solidarity fund for 5 families in need.