Fundación Educación Popular en Salud (EPES) 2007 Report
Fundación EPES’ project, “Strengthening the Development of Leadership Among Women in Health Groups in Hualapén Community,” attempts to address the primary reasons why public health rights are not enforced in the communities of El Bosque, San Ramón, Hualpén, and Talcahuano in the Eighth Region of southern Chile and in the greater-Santiago area. EPES organizes its work in three program areas: organization of grassroots health groups, promotion of citizen participation in public health issues, and strengthening of local public groups through training and advocacy efforts.
Fundación EPES’ project, “Strengthening the Development of Leadership Among Women in Health Groups in Hualpén Community,” attempts to address the primary reasons why public health rights are not enforced in the communities of El Bosque, San Ramón, Hualpén, and Talcahuano in the Eighth Region of southern Chile and in the greater-Santiago area. EPES organizes its work in three program areas: organization of grassroots health groups, promotion of citizen participation in public health issues, and strengthening of local public groups through training and advocacy efforts.
The key objectives of this project include the support of the participatory planning process of the five community health care groups, who report on local progress through a newsletter distributed through local public health facilities, municipalities, and other local organizations. The project seeks to strengthen group capacities and leadership development through the sharing of tools and resources that show the contributions of women in healthcare, and at the same time, train for citizen control of health services.
The EPES staff training group provided advice and counsel to the Coordinator of Health Groups that met twice a month for one full year; provided advice and counsel to the General Plenary Meetings of Health Groups that met once a month for one full year. The staff training group assessed the development and evaluation of the work plans of the Health Groups. This was done twice a year during three hour sessions. In addition they provided infrastructural and material support to the events sponsored by the Health Groups.
The project helped strengthen the development of group capabilities and leadership in women’s health issues from the perspective of gender and civil rights that will highlight the contributions of women to health care. It also motivated the submission of proposals that helped establish citizen controlled health services. As an example, the project trained 132 women from seven regions of Hualpén who in turn became facilitators and monitors. Approximately 8,000 living in the communities of Hualpén were served, an increase of 3,000 people over the previous year.
EPES foresees a decrease in funding for 2008 due to a possible U.S. recession and the lack of priority the Chilean government places on international cooperation, as well as subdued public information that fails to disclose the inequity among the Chilean population and the limits of the current democratic process.
EPES expresses its gratitude to Global Ministries who, together with other church partners, provide the financial support for projects such as these.
Translated and edited by: Office of Resource Development
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