What We Do

HEALTH AND SAFETY CAMPAIGNS

A Mothers Wish Foundation operates the following campaigns that educate, raise awareness, prevent illness, and create a healthier environment. 

PARASITE CAMPAIGN

The Situation before A Mother’s Wish

One of the leading conditions found in our community and surrounding communities was parasites.

Our Solution

The Foundation provides a dose of anti-parasite medicine to every member of our community every six months. A liquid dose is provided to all residents at the house when we call and a pill is left for any members away from the house.

The Cost

Each campaign costs about $200 ($400 per year). The incidence of parasites has dropped significantly in our community but has remained constant for those patients from the surrounding communities.

TRASH COLLECTION

The Situation before A Mother’s Wish

The communities had trash piles along the roadside and behind the houses, places were the children play and walk. The trash piles were infested with rats and cock roaches.

Our Solution

In conjunction with the City Halls in Pedro Garcia and Yasica, the trash is collected every week and the residents pay 20 pesos ($0.60) per household per month.

The Cost

The existing trash piles were burned and the area has remained clean. The Foundation subsidizes approximately US$20 each month.

WATER ANALYSIS

The Situation before A Mother’s Wish

Due to the high number of cases of scabies and intestinal parasites, the Foundation executed an analysis of the main water sources for the community in 2007.

Our Solution

Taking samples and using both a government laboratory and a private laboratory in Santiago, the Foundation was able to identify the bacteria, minerals and parasites resident in each major water source.

The Cost

The Foundation provided the community with this information and methods for purifying their water for drinking, bathing and cleaning. The cost was US$804.50.

PAP SMEAR DAYS

The Situation before A Mother’s Wish

Pap Smear tests are available in Santiago (20km from the Pequeños Pasitos). Patients needed to take transportation to the city, have the test taken, pay fees, and return two weeks later for the results. Many women in our community had never received a Pap Test.

Our Solution

We made a deal with a reputable Clinic in Santiago to have Pap analyzed for 50 pesos each. The Pap test is administered at Pequeños Pasitos; delivered to Santiago and results retrieved by the Foundation. The women return to Pequeños Pasitos in two weeks for their results.

The Cost

Since 2006 we have administered approximately 150 Pap Tests per year. These campaigns cost over $600 per year.  The most recent tests were recently paid for by one of our donors.

DENGUE FEVER CAMPAIGN

The Situation before A Mother’s Wish

Dengue Fever has been and continues to be a top killer in the Dominican Republic. Nothing was in place to eliminate the mosquitoes who carry Dengue Fever in our area.

Our Solution

We began with an educational campaign of visiting every home during Dengue season to explain how to stop the mosquitoes from breeding; by covering tanks of clean standing water and providing Clorox to clean the tanks regularly. After limited success, we included the materials and covered any open tanks during our visit to every house.

The Cost

These campaigns cost $275.  In 2006, our campaign eliminated Dengue for the season. In 2007 it did not. This season, 2008, we expect our tank covering to have a significant impact. Currently, we are in the middle of the season and have one reported case.

Copyright 2008. A Mother’s Wish. All rights reserved.