- Email: [email protected]
“The Otilia Project” and Project Helping Hands Sustainable Programs in Third World Countries
GLOBAL THEME ON POVERTY AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
‘‘The Otilia Project’’ and Project Helping Hands Sustainable Programs in Third World Countries Author: Pat Clutter, RN, MEd, CEN, FAEN, Strafford, Mo
Pat Clutter, Ozark Chapter ENA, is Part Time Ship Nurse, ED Staff Nurse, Educator, Project Helping Hands, Missouri State Council, Strafford, Mo. For correspondence, write: Pat Clutter, RN, MEd, CEN, FAEN, 9361 E. Farm Road 112, Strafford, MO 65757; E-mail: Clutter@ wildblue.net. J Emerg Nurs 2007;33:468-70. 0099-1767/$32.00 Copyright n 2007 by the Emergency Nurses Association. doi: 10.1016/j.jen.2007.06.002
468
O
tilia is a registered nurse working in the small community called Brecha T in Bolivia. Brecha T is actually a crossroads area and not an official ‘‘town.’’ In 2003, the Ozark Chapter of ENA began a project with Otilia (through Project Helping Hands [PHH] and Cup of Cold Water Ministries) that has allowed her to continue to work in her community as a nurse. Otilia began working in the town of Suapi—in the small 10-bed hospital that is located there. Without the funding, the town would not have access to healthcare and Otilia would have to find other work that paid. The town did not have the funding to keep a nurse at work in the hospital. Later in the year, Otilia returned to her community and through the generosity of the Ozark Chapter and Kathi Ream, with KAR Associates, Inc., she has continued her work. Mission groups search for ways to attain and maintain ‘‘sustainability’’ in countries (or areas of the United States) in which they work. ‘‘The Otilia Project’’ is one of these types of programs that PHH is developing to help the country of Bolivia help itself. We know that nurses can make significant impacts on their communities and in hospital/clinic settings. It is designed to assist nurses in third world countries to function in their role as nurses and is committed to support measures that will allow nurses in remote areas of third world countries to work productively in their chosen profession. PHH has created many programs to assist in education regarding health care for Bolivia (other countries are also a part of PHH’s scope, including Kenya, which this year will become another major health care educational venture). The development of f lyers and coloring
JOURNAL OF EMERGENCY NURSING
33:5
October 2007
GLOBAL THEME ON POVERTY AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT/Clutter
FIGURE 1
FIGURE 2
Otilia caring for a child with a fever.
Otilia working in her role as a nurse.
books related to preventive and first aid measures, the distribution of supplies and the book, Where There Is No Doctor, (in Spanish) to villages, and the establishment of education programs directed at lay individuals in the villages/ towns, including children and adults, are some of the ways in which PHH strives to make a difference on a sustainable level, along with the actual health care provided in the clinics.
Mission groups search for ways to attain and maintain ‘‘sustainability’’ in countries (or areas of the United States) in which they work. FIGURE 3
For $1500, we are able to pay for Otilia’s yearly salary, her home, and food. Over the past year, we have been attempting to enlarge this project to include other nurses in Bolivia who could provide care in their communities. ‘‘The Otilia Project’’ is named for our first registered nurse. Once we are able to have many ‘‘Otilia’s’’ working, plans will emerge for a professional seminar for this group of nurses. The following is an excerpt from a letter that was received from Otilia: ‘‘. . .In first place, please receive a cordial greeting and the desire that you continue with success in your
October 2007
33:5
Otilia on a trip to Caranavi, Bolivia.
endeavors to help the Bolivian families which have already been helped with your support. The main reason I am writing you to extend my thanks to all who have supported this mission, for the generosity that has been poured on me unconditionally in order to increase and help my activities as a licensed nurse in the hospital, as I have been able to lend my services to this population and residents, being able to work with 35 families in the community called Brecha T.
JOURNAL OF EMERGENCY NURSING
469
GLOBAL THEME ON POVERTY AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT/Clutter
On another front, I want to let you know that this endeavor is not something that is desired to be stopped with the population and for the good of the more needy persons, moving into society and for the good of our brothers. I will close for now, With the utmost respect you deserve for your efforts in this mission. May God bless you all. . .’’ (Translated from letter) Otilia
Otilia continues to work hard for her community. Otilia continues to work hard for her community (Figures 1-3). For $125 per month, one nurse in Bolivia will be able to continue her practice in communities that otherwise might not have health care available. Through generous donations, the people of Bolivia, a proud country with few resources and isolated villages, will be able to experience the care and compassion that nurses bring. If you are interested in helping with this project, please contact either Pat Clutter RN, MEd, CEN, FAEN at [email protected] or 417-736-2203 or Jeff Solheim RN, CEN at [email protected].
470
JOURNAL OF EMERGENCY NURSING
33:5
October 2007
‘‘The Otilia Project’’ and Project Helping Hands Sustainable Programs in Third World Countries Author: Pat Clutter, RN, MEd, CEN, FAEN, Strafford, Mo
Pat Clutter, Ozark Chapter ENA, is Part Time Ship Nurse, ED Staff Nurse, Educator, Project Helping Hands, Missouri State Council, Strafford, Mo. For correspondence, write: Pat Clutter, RN, MEd, CEN, FAEN, 9361 E. Farm Road 112, Strafford, MO 65757; E-mail: Clutter@ wildblue.net. J Emerg Nurs 2007;33:468-70. 0099-1767/$32.00 Copyright n 2007 by the Emergency Nurses Association. doi: 10.1016/j.jen.2007.06.002
468
O
tilia is a registered nurse working in the small community called Brecha T in Bolivia. Brecha T is actually a crossroads area and not an official ‘‘town.’’ In 2003, the Ozark Chapter of ENA began a project with Otilia (through Project Helping Hands [PHH] and Cup of Cold Water Ministries) that has allowed her to continue to work in her community as a nurse. Otilia began working in the town of Suapi—in the small 10-bed hospital that is located there. Without the funding, the town would not have access to healthcare and Otilia would have to find other work that paid. The town did not have the funding to keep a nurse at work in the hospital. Later in the year, Otilia returned to her community and through the generosity of the Ozark Chapter and Kathi Ream, with KAR Associates, Inc., she has continued her work. Mission groups search for ways to attain and maintain ‘‘sustainability’’ in countries (or areas of the United States) in which they work. ‘‘The Otilia Project’’ is one of these types of programs that PHH is developing to help the country of Bolivia help itself. We know that nurses can make significant impacts on their communities and in hospital/clinic settings. It is designed to assist nurses in third world countries to function in their role as nurses and is committed to support measures that will allow nurses in remote areas of third world countries to work productively in their chosen profession. PHH has created many programs to assist in education regarding health care for Bolivia (other countries are also a part of PHH’s scope, including Kenya, which this year will become another major health care educational venture). The development of f lyers and coloring
JOURNAL OF EMERGENCY NURSING
33:5
October 2007
GLOBAL THEME ON POVERTY AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT/Clutter
FIGURE 1
FIGURE 2
Otilia caring for a child with a fever.
Otilia working in her role as a nurse.
books related to preventive and first aid measures, the distribution of supplies and the book, Where There Is No Doctor, (in Spanish) to villages, and the establishment of education programs directed at lay individuals in the villages/ towns, including children and adults, are some of the ways in which PHH strives to make a difference on a sustainable level, along with the actual health care provided in the clinics.
Mission groups search for ways to attain and maintain ‘‘sustainability’’ in countries (or areas of the United States) in which they work. FIGURE 3
For $1500, we are able to pay for Otilia’s yearly salary, her home, and food. Over the past year, we have been attempting to enlarge this project to include other nurses in Bolivia who could provide care in their communities. ‘‘The Otilia Project’’ is named for our first registered nurse. Once we are able to have many ‘‘Otilia’s’’ working, plans will emerge for a professional seminar for this group of nurses. The following is an excerpt from a letter that was received from Otilia: ‘‘. . .In first place, please receive a cordial greeting and the desire that you continue with success in your
October 2007
33:5
Otilia on a trip to Caranavi, Bolivia.
endeavors to help the Bolivian families which have already been helped with your support. The main reason I am writing you to extend my thanks to all who have supported this mission, for the generosity that has been poured on me unconditionally in order to increase and help my activities as a licensed nurse in the hospital, as I have been able to lend my services to this population and residents, being able to work with 35 families in the community called Brecha T.
JOURNAL OF EMERGENCY NURSING
469
GLOBAL THEME ON POVERTY AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT/Clutter
On another front, I want to let you know that this endeavor is not something that is desired to be stopped with the population and for the good of the more needy persons, moving into society and for the good of our brothers. I will close for now, With the utmost respect you deserve for your efforts in this mission. May God bless you all. . .’’ (Translated from letter) Otilia
Otilia continues to work hard for her community. Otilia continues to work hard for her community (Figures 1-3). For $125 per month, one nurse in Bolivia will be able to continue her practice in communities that otherwise might not have health care available. Through generous donations, the people of Bolivia, a proud country with few resources and isolated villages, will be able to experience the care and compassion that nurses bring. If you are interested in helping with this project, please contact either Pat Clutter RN, MEd, CEN, FAEN at [email protected] or 417-736-2203 or Jeff Solheim RN, CEN at [email protected].
470
JOURNAL OF EMERGENCY NURSING
33:5
October 2007