Helping moms & babies in Nicaragua
You are changing the lives of moms and babies. Here’s how.
The Need
Of the 5.2 million children who die around the world each year, 75 per cent die in the first year of life. Babies are at risk of death due to premature birth complications, complications during childbirth, infections, pneumonia and diarrhea. But this is preventable. With training and support, moms in poverty can be empowered to raise healthy and happy babies.
Our Response
Critical care
Your support helps secure access to pre- and postnatal care, skilled birth attendants and medical intervention when necessary.
Home-based care
Mothers are visited in their homes monthly by a Survival specialist, who offers education in prenatal care and early child-rearing as well as one-on-one biblical mentoring.
Group-based learning
At these church-based activities, moms learn skills to earn an income and gain vital knowledge including basic literacy, the importance of breastfeeding and how to prevent malnutrition and disease. These groups combat isolation through a supportive community of mothers who, together, learn about the God who loves them.
Nicaragua Stats
Average number of children in household | 3 |
Average age of first-time mothers | 15 |
Births attended by skilled health personnel | 88 |
Stunted growth from malnutrition | 23 |
Activities
Safety education: Program staff educated mothers on health, safety and disease prevention. Moms learned how to respond if their children are choking and how to identify food allergies and allergic reactions. Mothers at NI0107 celebrated World Breastfeeding week and learned how breastmilk can prevent allergies and infections in babies. Moms also learned what to do when breastfeeding is not an option.
Early stimulation: Moms bonded with their babies through fun and educational activities during home visits and group sessions. Staff encouraged moms to spend quality time with their children to promote their physical, cognitive and emotional development and well-being. Moms learned how to create a stimulating environment for their children and to find child-safe, everyday objects to make creative toys at home.
Physical health: Program staff tracked babies’ height and weight to assess their growth and development. Babies showing signs of malnutrition were treated with supplements and additional care. Pregnant moms attended prenatal appointments and received care and support after giving birth. Moms learned how to make oral rehydration serums when their babies are ill. Staff distributed mosquito nets to caregivers and taught them how to prevent common vector-borne illnesses like dengue fever and malaria. Caregivers also received food packages so they could prepare healthy meals for their families.
Child protection: Staff educated caregivers on crucial child protection training. At the NI0143 centre, caregivers used booklets to help their learning on this topic. At the NI0226 centre, moms participated in a group activity where they formed a circle and each held up a piece of wool, representing the importance of a support network to protect their children. Families committed to keeping their children safe from abuse.
Group activities: Caregivers gathered to celebrate special events and holidays like first birthdays, Family Day and Mother’s Day, where they enjoyed hearing a message from the Word of the Lord, making crafts and enjoying snacks. During birthday parties, moms shared delicious food and birthday cake and enjoyed breaking piñatas and hearing devotionals. Group meetings gave moms the opportunity to develop new relationships and share their joys, challenges and everyday parenting experiences.
Spiritual nurture: Staff prayed with caregivers during home visits and group meetings and gave moms Bibles to read at home. Through Bible studies and devotionals, moms gained a deeper understanding of Biblical principles and how to apply them in their everyday lives, fostering spiritual growth and a strong sense of community. Some caregivers dedicated their babies to the Lord during special ceremonies at church.
Project Stats
This intervention addressed:
Full-term births | 4 |
Illness: Respiratory-Related Illness | 1 |
Illness: Gastrointestinal Diseases | 2 |
Pregnancies | 6 |
Breastfeeding Moms | 16 |
Malnourished Babies - Severely Underweight | 8 |
Illness subc: Diarrhea | 1 |
Malnourished Babies - Moderately Underweight | 24 |
Normal birth weights | 4 |
ReportA message from a pastor
Please receive a cordial greeting in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
For several years, we have been serving many families through the Survival program, in which we support caregivers with Christian education and discipleship. In addition, participants are given nutritional support through a monthly package of food products as well as health support, both for the caregivers and the babies.
We are very grateful to you, our sponsor brothers and sisters, for the valuable financial contribution you provide for the benefit all the families registered in the Survival program.
We also want to mention that through the Survival program, many mothers have confessed Christ as their Saviour and are now congregating in church. That is one of the fruits we have seen from the program.
We are praying for you and at the same time, ask that you continue supporting the Survival program. As a church, we are responsible for transparently managing these funds so that that the benefit reaches each of the participants. On behalf of all the program staff, we are deeply grateful for your support. May God bless you and keep you.
Sincerely,
ReportA message from those your gift helped
May the Lord greatly bless your life and that of your family. I am Yelin, mother of Lucas.
It is a pleasure for me to write to you and thank you for the support you provide for the Survival program. This program has been a great blessing for me and my baby, and I am grateful to be part of this beautiful program. One of the activities that I really like in the program is when we get to participate in drama and drawing.
I have learned through the lessons received at home and in groups. These lessons have helped me strengthen my knowledge of how I should care for and maintain a healthy relationship with my baby.
I am thankful to the Lord for my son’s life, and I ask that God will take care of you and your family.
I say goodbye, wishing you success in all your daily work.