Public Health
In addition to treating acute patient needs, OCHO addresses widespread concerns through sustainable, public health programs. Guided in concert with community collaboration, epidemiologic evidence, and regional specifications, our programs are designed to address the most pressing concerns with a long runway of improvement.
Clean Water
In partnership with the Rotary Club of Baltimore, Rotary International, Agua Clara (Cornell University), Agua Para El Pueblo, and the Municipal Government of Atima, OCHO helped to raise funds to support the construction of a $100,000 water purification facility to serve the Atima community.
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More than 4000 people have now access to clean potable water, which has considerably reduced chronic illnesses and malnutrition associated with water contaminated by bacteria and parasites. “At the end of the paragraph about water link a video to this sentence: The project was completed in June of 2012.
Clean Stoves
After numerous clinical encounters during OCHO’s medical clinic identified persistent Upper Respiratory Infections among women and children, a volunteer discovered the issue: traditional cookstoves filled homes with smoke all hours of the day. So, he devised a solution: build an improved cook stove that pipes smoke outside and reduces wood consumption from improved efficiency. Along with a micro-financing strategy, Proyecto Mirador was created.
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Since 2004, over 200,000 clean-burning cooking stoves have been installed in Honduras directed by the Project Mirador Foundation. These stoves vent toxic smoke to the outside of the homes, use 1/3 the amount of wood, as well as burn hotter and cook faster than typical stoves. As a result, respiratory and eye problems, wood consumption, deforestation, and indoor smoke pollution have been dramatically reduced. The reduction in the amount of wood needed has also resulted in significant cost savings to families as well as time saved in gathering wood. Proyecto Mirador now employs two full-time Honduran staff to oversee its growing operation of more than 172 employees. To learn more visit Proyecto Mirador
Health Education
OCHO volunteers and public health professionals collaborate with local clinicians and teachers to strengthen the programs offered by health educators, or “promotores de salud.” Supporting the peer-educator programs similar to those offered by Planned Parenthood has created leadership opportunities among young adults in reducing teen pregnancy. Volunteers have hosted workshops, developed customized pamphlets, hosted fitness events, and trained local trainers to share information on topics including:
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Nutrition and diet
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Pregnancy and newborn care
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Physical fitness and well being
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By providing local clinicians and teachers with the information and tools necessary to educate, health education programs can be most far-reaching and sustainable for the community.
Education
OCHO has also partnered with Honduran early childhood interventionists at the communities of Atima and San Vicente Centenario [Santa Barbara] who work to both teach families about child developmental and to identify young children with developmental delays.
Would you like to join the OCHO team by sharing your skills and services?
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Contact the OCHO Board of Directors:
info@OCHO.org
OCHO
P.O Box 26162
Baltimore, MD 21210
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