The Teach for Health community health promoter program in San Ramon, Nicaragua seeks to empower rural communities to identify and seek solutions to health problems with the help of an elected health promoter who receives specialty training. Community health promoter competency is improved through monthly training modules and annual continuing education workshops, with long term support and advisin
g relationships while health promoters develop their own solutions on a day to day basis working in their communities. Graduate students in medicine, nursing and public health join with local organizations to provide the necessary training for community driven sustainable responses. Projects initiated by health promoters have included health outreach and education workshops at schools, family planning informational talks, anti-malarial household fumigation, checkups and family support for sick community members, community cleanup days and more. Health promoters serve as a contact point for their community’s questions and needs- returning to monthly program meetings for brainstorming and feedback with their peers and Teach for Health program staff. The fundamental basis for all projects is that they must originate from identified community needs, while seeking solutions that rely on existing community resources.
