You mentioned that you would provide sexuality education for young women. What type of curriculum would be used and how would their needs inform its development? Would the program also focus on giving young people nonjudgemental access to reproductive health services?
Thanks for your interest. In answer to your question, yes, young women will be provided information on and access to reproductive health services. One of the things we discovered at the regional clinics and hospital in our area is that many – if not most – girls are aware of birth control methods, and often seek birth control themselves. However, the regional clinics depend on a poorly funded public health system in which supplies are limited. So, for example, a girl or woman on birth control might show up to get a prescription renewed or her injectable (more popular) and find that the supply had already been exhausted. So, of course, maintaining continuity is important.
But we're not there to tell girls what to do. We're there to educate them on their options and, hopefully, in providing education and compassionate care, broaden their vision for their lives and possibilities. That intangible aspect of reproductive health is to me so key to meaningful long-term progress.
I'd like to hear more about what your classes will teach. How are you going to increase the educational, nutritional, spiritual and economic health of the woman and her family? I really like your idea but it's hard to see from the entry what exactly is taught and how you plan to achieve the specific outcomes you've mentioned.
The statement you refer to applies to our vision. Our belief and approach is that health and well-being is part of a holistic equation and any long-term, meaningful change needs to address this. Our plan includes opportunities (and space) to support and develop this notion. However, as you probably noticed, we're in the construction phase of Clinica Verde. If all goes well, clinic construction should be completed by the end of 2010, when we hope to go operational. We'll begin by providing clinical care and outreach of basic needs for women and their families and build from there. Our Nicaraguan and US doctors have established a goal of providing a medical home for 4,000 children for 12,000 visits per year and prenatal care for 1,500 high-risk pregnancies for 6,000 visits per year. The clinic aims to reduce by 20 % the number of hospitalizations for infant dehydration, infant mortality and the number of babies of low birth weight by providing pre-natal and post-natal care, information and basic education to our cherished clients. Our programs will build from there.
Although our ambitions are broad, we feel it's prudent to roll out one stage at a time as we work through the expected challenges, fumbles and missteps. We're fortunate to have very experienced Nicaraguan physicians and health professionals to help guide our programs and services. In terms of the classes we'll teach, much of that will be in response to the needs and interests of the local community under the guidance of our Nica Medical Director.
As a start-up that approaches health "from the ground up," beginning with environment, there's of course a spatial element to our concept. In addition to traditional exam rooms, Clinica Verde is designed with a community room that includes a demonstration kitchen, organic working garden to serve as a hands-on tool for teaching nutrition, a small cafe and caretaker's quarters, and, eventually, vendor's kiosks where women can sell produce or wares according to demand. (We hope to establish a relationship with a microfinance organization before rolling that out.) We sought the input of various stakeholders in establishing this design, which went through quite a few rounds and revisions. Some of the most interesting aspects (demonstration kitchen) came through a meeting with one of our Advisors, a respected Medical Director of a US community clinic that serves the low-income Hispanic community in Northern California (who, incidentally, did post-graduate work in Nicaragua). His clinic is a model for others. We asked him, what would you do differently if you were to start now? His response influenced a series of modifications we undertook.
You're right in pointing out that our vision seems rather broad and ambitious. There are certainly times when it does to us as well! But we're holding it out there as we work through the individual steps that will keep us moving forward thoughtfully and responsibly ...
Comments
Hi Susan,
You mentioned that you would provide sexuality education for young women. What type of curriculum would be used and how would their needs inform its development? Would the program also focus on giving young people nonjudgemental access to reproductive health services?
Hi, Kelly:
Thanks for your interest. In answer to your question, yes, young women will be provided information on and access to reproductive health services. One of the things we discovered at the regional clinics and hospital in our area is that many – if not most – girls are aware of birth control methods, and often seek birth control themselves. However, the regional clinics depend on a poorly funded public health system in which supplies are limited. So, for example, a girl or woman on birth control might show up to get a prescription renewed or her injectable (more popular) and find that the supply had already been exhausted. So, of course, maintaining continuity is important.
But we're not there to tell girls what to do. We're there to educate them on their options and, hopefully, in providing education and compassionate care, broaden their vision for their lives and possibilities. That intangible aspect of reproductive health is to me so key to meaningful long-term progress.
I appreciate your question!
Susan
I'd like to hear more about what your classes will teach. How are you going to increase the educational, nutritional, spiritual and economic health of the woman and her family? I really like your idea but it's hard to see from the entry what exactly is taught and how you plan to achieve the specific outcomes you've mentioned.
Hi, Jake:
Thanks very much for your comment.
The statement you refer to applies to our vision. Our belief and approach is that health and well-being is part of a holistic equation and any long-term, meaningful change needs to address this. Our plan includes opportunities (and space) to support and develop this notion. However, as you probably noticed, we're in the construction phase of Clinica Verde. If all goes well, clinic construction should be completed by the end of 2010, when we hope to go operational. We'll begin by providing clinical care and outreach of basic needs for women and their families and build from there. Our Nicaraguan and US doctors have established a goal of providing a medical home for 4,000 children for 12,000 visits per year and prenatal care for 1,500 high-risk pregnancies for 6,000 visits per year. The clinic aims to reduce by 20 % the number of hospitalizations for infant dehydration, infant mortality and the number of babies of low birth weight by providing pre-natal and post-natal care, information and basic education to our cherished clients. Our programs will build from there.
Although our ambitions are broad, we feel it's prudent to roll out one stage at a time as we work through the expected challenges, fumbles and missteps. We're fortunate to have very experienced Nicaraguan physicians and health professionals to help guide our programs and services. In terms of the classes we'll teach, much of that will be in response to the needs and interests of the local community under the guidance of our Nica Medical Director.
As a start-up that approaches health "from the ground up," beginning with environment, there's of course a spatial element to our concept. In addition to traditional exam rooms, Clinica Verde is designed with a community room that includes a demonstration kitchen, organic working garden to serve as a hands-on tool for teaching nutrition, a small cafe and caretaker's quarters, and, eventually, vendor's kiosks where women can sell produce or wares according to demand. (We hope to establish a relationship with a microfinance organization before rolling that out.) We sought the input of various stakeholders in establishing this design, which went through quite a few rounds and revisions. Some of the most interesting aspects (demonstration kitchen) came through a meeting with one of our Advisors, a respected Medical Director of a US community clinic that serves the low-income Hispanic community in Northern California (who, incidentally, did post-graduate work in Nicaragua). His clinic is a model for others. We asked him, what would you do differently if you were to start now? His response influenced a series of modifications we undertook.
You're right in pointing out that our vision seems rather broad and ambitious. There are certainly times when it does to us as well! But we're holding it out there as we work through the individual steps that will keep us moving forward thoughtfully and responsibly ...
Thanks for your interest.
Susan
Remember to put the information you've written here into your entry for the competition. Thanks for clearing things up.