By Kate Lalor
July, 2008
For many years, Mission Manna has hoped to employ community health workers to help children between our twice-yearly visits. Prior to the departure of the April team, we decided to put a pilot program in place, hiring Eddy Prophete and Givneaud Louis to follow thirty children determined to be at risk from malnutrition.

For $1,200 a month, we are providing akamil, nutritional education and when needed, emergency medical care to 30 children. Eddy and Givneaud go to the home of each family from two to five times per month, depending on the severity of the need. They are tracking data such as body weight and arm circumference on each of the children so that we can evaluate our efforts and make adjustments to improve results.

In light of the effect of global circumstances in Haiti’s economy, the timing of our decision to “jump in” could not have been better. It is possible only because of your generosity.

If every person on our mailing list donates $40.00, it will cover the cost of the Community Health Initiative for a year. We have two supporters who send $10 per month. If you do the math, you’ll see what an impact their donations make.

(The community health program in November 2009 now costs $1200 a month, not $800, as stated above.)