The Maternal and Child Health Program held it’s annual holiday party, and everyone had a blast! Of the 67 women in the program 65 came plus 2 whose children had just graduated. One mother brought her husband and there were also several grandmothers and lots of children! The party started off with games for the women, including the tocoyal race-who can put a tocoyal on first.  Both the women and the children also participated in sack races, which got a bit  competitive with a little friendly pushing and shoving (and not by the kids)! The younger children also played pin the star on the Christmas tree.

Every mother received a broom, dishcloth and bar of laundry soap-in line with our goal of improving the health of beneficiaries. Half of the brooms were donated by a local business thanks to our social work intern Vilma Concepcion Mendoza Sosof. Each child also received a small package of clothes that had been donated throughout the year. Pueblo a Pueblo awarded one mother, Antonia Mendoza Pablo, with a certificate for having attended all the classes in 2011, being on time, and participating actively. Chonita Mendoza, who works for our medical clinic partner Rxiin Tnamet and leads our education sessions, also received a certificate of appreciation for all her hard work throughout the year.

Last came the food, which included tamales, tostadas, mandarins and bananas and rosa de Jamaica juice. Everyone had a great time!

Two Mothers Do a Role Play During an MCH Educational Meeting

Maternal and Child Health Program (MCH) just enrolled eight new women, bringing to 67 the total number of mothers and their children who are receiving medical care and education through this program. This summer, Pueblo a Pueblo hosted a local social work student who conducted an in-depth survey with 60 of the mothers. This survey provided us with useful information about the strength of our program and ways we can make it even better. Some key findings of her survey include the following:

• Many mothers report that access to medical care, prescription coverage, coverage of labor and delivery costs, and personal attention received after the birth of the child are aspects of the program that they find most helpful.
• Among the topics that the mothers feel are most helpful and that they put into practice in their homes are hygiene and improving the nutrition of your child.
• With respect to the coverage of medical costs, 62% of the mothers interviewed reported that medical expenses for the family have decreased, 35% reported that their children get sick less often, and 4% said they are able to take more of their children to the doctor. This is important because it shows that the Maternal Child Health Program is not only serving the sponsored child but also indirectly, their siblings.
• Topics mothers would like learn about include: How to prepare nutritious meals and natural medicine.
• Topics mothers would like to revisit are family planning and contraceptive methods.

Both parents sometimes attend our meetings, and many mothers bring their babies too!

We are now working on incorporating the mothers’ suggestions into our programming and look forward to letting you know how these additions are received by the mothers.

This month’s educational meeting was about cervical cancer and pap smears. Women received helpful information about the importance of pap smears and when and how to receive the exam. The outreach worker also dispelled many myths surrounding the exam and cervical cancer.