Improving Pro Mujer Health Care Services

On June 1, U.S. Ambassador Paul A. Trivelli participated in a U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) program launch that will improve the health services offered by Pro Mujer, a micro finance organization, in five departments of the country.

USAID, through its Quality Assurance Project, is providing technical assistance to Pro Mujer to improve the quality of its gynecology services, family planning, and HIV/AIDS prevention for more than 21, 000 women clients.

Pro Mujer, a U.S. non-profit international development organization, set up its Nicaragua branch in 1996 in the departments of Leon and Chinandega with $1.5 million in assistance from USAID.  Pro Mujer provides the following services: micro lending; small business training and product development; and health care.  In 1998, nearly 80 percent of Pro Mujer's clients were affected by the devastation of Hurricane Mitch.  However, with assistance from USAID’s Hurricane Mitch Reconstruction Program, Pro Mujer was able to regain its pre-disaster efficiency.  In June 1999, USAID provided an additional $1.1 million to Pro Mujer to expand its programs to the departments of Masaya, Managua and Estelí. USAID continues to provide assistance to ProMujer through the Quality Assurance Project.

USAID’s Quality Assurance Project works to improve maternal and child health care, and promote HIV/AIDS voluntary examinations. The program works with public and private health centers in 15 of the 17 SILAIS (Local Integrated Health Systems) of the country: Rio San Juan, Jinotega, Matagalpa, Granada, Boaco, Chontales, Chinandega, Estelí, the South Atlantic Autonomous Region and the North Atlantic Autonomous Region, Nueva Segovia, Madriz, Masaya and Leon.