2007 Report from Friendship Mission

2007 Report
Friendship Mission Social Ministry Projects
Paraguay

Friendship Mission in Paraguay was founded in 1953 by the United Christian Missionary Society (predecessor of the Division of Overseas Ministries) and by graduates of the International School in Paraguay, the first Disciple mission in Paraguay, founded in 1917. The original purpose of Friendship Mission was to attend to needs of the urban poor living near the Mission and in Asuncion, the capital city of Paraguay.

With the commitment and energy of Disciples missionaries in the mid-1960s, notably the work of Raymond and Betty Mills, Friendship Mission grew in vitality and the reach of its programs expanded. Besides offering basic social services to poor families, Friendship Mission began the first school for the deaf in Paraguay. The Friendship Mission Clinic was an important program founded in this period, along with educational opportunities for community children and adults.

Friendship Mission established a system of monitoring and evaluating the management of its social projects in 2006 in order to establish priorities for its work in 2007 and onward. Social service programs are carried out with a clear conscience that now more than ever in Paraguay the percentage of population beneath the poverty level is quickly growing. Of the 43 percent of those categorized as poor, 60 percent of those are considered extremely poor, meaning they cannot satisfy even their basic nutritional needs. Paraguay currently faces extreme economic and social difficulties with the forecast looking to an even more extreme deterioration. Thus Friendship Mission is actively engaged in programs which are critical to the community. These projects provide for many the only source of aid or assistance available to them.

Friendship Mission Policlinic

Friendship Mission is well known in Paraguay for offering high quality medical attention at reduced costs. Each year over 33,000 people of limited resources are assisted by physicians and specialists at the clinic. Services provided include general medical care, cardiology, gynecology, pediatrics, ophthalmology, otolaryngology, urology, dermatology, orthopedics, dentistry, laboratory services, radiology, and minor surgical procedures. In addition to physical health, the policlinic provides child psychology, educational psychology, and holistic health services. Friendship Mission is committed to providing services that will benefit those in extreme poverty in Paraguay with a vision of providing them a way to improve their quality of life.

Child Street Workers

In light of the increase of extreme poverty, the total abandonment in which thousands of children live is more and more visible. In Paraguay approximately 260,000 children between the ages of ten and fourteen earn the living for their families. This is yet another symptom of the extreme poverty overtaking the country. These children are victims of the economy and are vulnerable to psychological and physical violence from family and society. Friendship Mission reaches out to these children who spend most of their time on the street as working children or because they are children

who live on the street. These children receive dental and general medical attention at the Friendship Mission Clinic, including services of radiology and lab analysis.

Betty and Raymond Mills School of Nursing

The Betty and Raymond Mills School of Nursing began in 2005 and is recognized by the Department of Education and Culture of Paraguay. The school offers a two year certification in nursing and trains students from rural areas who will go back to carry out their profession in their rural home villages as primary health providers. The primary purpose is to provide vocational training to raise the quality of life of the students and their families, as well as to provide services that are much needed in the areas of extreme poverty.

While studying, nursing students do field work in rural neighborhoods from which the clinic at Friendship Mission draws many patients. One of the most recent areas of work of the nursing students in the community has been around the causes and the prevention of dengue fever. They also offer educational sessions on health-related matters to children participating in the Friendship Mission Street School.

The school currently has 65 students and offers basic academic courses as well as the technical training courses for basic and advanced nursing. In addition, the school has begun technician training in radiology and pharmacy in an effort to provide more choices for those who seek to bring themselves out of their despondent realities to find a better place for themselves and their families

Project Woman

This project provides women with occupational training that allows them to learn in a short period a craft or trade they can utilize to earn an income that will help their families, while at the same time help them to increase their self-esteem. The project has faced several revisions to meet the needs and demands of the population. In addition to the vocational training currently offered, the program now holds seminars and forums on family violence, children, and gender abuse.

Project M.A.E.S.T.R.A.

The Spanish word "maestra" means "teacher" in English. Project M.A.E.S.T.R.A. uses the acronym for the Spanish description, which when translated into English means "Friendship Mission Extension of Health Services through Relationships and Aid." The project provides medical services including medications to people in areas where there is no local access to said services; and to offer classes and workshops to teach about diabetes, hypertension, disease prevention, hygiene, etc. Services are provided by a team of four which includes a social worker/receptionist, a nurse, a medical doctor, and physician assistant.

Project M.A.E.S.T.R.A. obtained the approval of the government Director of Health to use closed state run clinics. The project was so well liked that the government assigned a full time nurse to facilitate the weekly clinics. She also offered other clinics, of which there are 86 in the area around Asuncion. This relationship has also provided access to very low cost medications allowing Project M.A.E.S.T.R.A. to extend services to other areas.

Services have been extended to out-lying areas as well as several schools in Asuncion serving street children as well as the blind. Nearly a third of the patients of Project M.A.E.S.T.R.A. are younger than five. A large number are treated for acute respiratory or gastrointestinal illness. A general rule is that all children living in the neighborhoods who are younger than ten should receive anti-parasite medication every six months. Some children are obviously malnourished with small stature and pale features. Of the adult patients over 40, almost half are being treated for hypertension. Approximately 10 percent of the patients cannot afford to pay the 4,000 guaranies (about 40 cents) that is charged for a consultation.

The project is living into its name "maestra" or "teacher" by entering into a symbiotic relationship with the Friendship Mission School of Nursing. The nursing students will do a survey of each of the communities where clinics are being conducted. Based on their results they will take action to address the problems that they find including educational lessons and workshops.

Sustainable Intervention in the Prevention and Control of Tuberculosis in Paraguay

This project focuses on education among 4,000 families and school children that live in poverty and extreme poverty in the peripheral areas of Asunción and the Central Department. The project works in conjunction with the Department of Public Health.

Social and Personal Development

Friendship Mission offers painting, puppet making/theater, guitar, and recreation as a means to develop social skills as well as aid in personal growth and development. The classes take place on Saturday mornings. Special community fairs, music festivals, and celebrations are prepared by the children for the community. International School graduates help in this work with these children as volunteers. Approximately 50 students are involved in this project.

Translated and edited by: Office of Resource Development
Global Ministries
P.O. Box 1986
Indianapolis, IN 46206
Tel: (317) 713-2555
Fax: (317) 635-4323
Email: gifts@dom.disciples.org

February 2008