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Overview

A primary goal of CHIMPS is to initiate meaningful, sustainable public health interventions in Abelines, El Salvador. Our approach to achieving this goal is by:

Identifying significant health problems for which meaningful interventions can be initiated during brief trips and sustained during the interim of annual trips.
Educating ourselves about these health problems through literature review and invited speaker presentations.
Preparing primarily picture-based charlas (presentations) on these health topics that can be effectively used with a mixed-age, low-literacy audience.
'Teaching the teachers' by training local health committee members in educational presentations and in the application of specific health interventions.
Providing supplies and continued support for planned ongoing interventions during the interim of annual trips.

2004 Initiatives

Promotion of Dental Health: In collaboration with the health committee we presented charlas on dental health to hundreds of familes. Committee members learned how to apply fluoride varnish to teeth for the prevention of early childhood carries. Together, we applied varnish to the teeth of all children aged 1 to 3 years old and gave toothbrushes to all children. The health committee is now repeating the charlas and the fluoride varnish applications every four months.

Prevention of Intestinal Parasites: With the health committee, we presented charlas on prevention of transmission of intestinal parasites. Because empiric treatment of parasites in areas of high endemicity can decrease parasite burden and associated morbidity, we treated all children aged 2-12 with mebendazole to decrease load of roundworms such as hookworm and ascaris. Medications were donated to repeat treatment at 6 month intervals. Along with ENLACE-coordinated interventions such as building household latrines, this intervention provides part of a multi-pronged approach to the prevention of parasitic diseases.