EL SALVADOR

(MissionNewswire) Don Bosco University in San Salvador, El Salvador, is empowering the next generation of medical rehabilitation practitioners to transform the lives of people with mobile disabilities through its “Walking Anew!” project, which ran from March 2017 to June 2022. This project was made possible thanks to a grant from the U.S. Agency for International Development’s American Schools and Hospitals Abroad (USAID/ASHA) program secured by Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco.

The project, now completed, expanded and upgraded the facilities at Don Bosco University’s School of Rehabilitation Science and the equipment used to train medical rehabilitation professionals. It revolutionized the field of rehabilitation science across Latin America by constructing a new laboratory and research annex, modernizing technology, and extending the reach of Don Bosco University School of Rehabilitation Science through an expanded distance learning program.

The construction of the new building, which houses the Applied Research Center, allows for the exchange of information with professionals in the field at an international level as well as provides space for a new podiatry laboratory and other specialized practices. The program has already trained people from El Salvador, other countries in Central America, South America, Haiti, Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In 2022, the project was also able to train students in Uganda through the distance learning program.

With the new building, Don Bosco University will become the first university in El Salvador with a building built under LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) parameters. The building has incorporated aspects related to energy efficiency, the use of alternative energies, the improvement of indoor environmental quality, the efficiency of water consumption, the sustainable development of open spaces on land and the selection of environmentally friendly materials.

The annex building, which houses a laboratory and research building for people with mobility disabilities, won the Sustainable Construction Award granted by the Salvadoran Chamber of Construction (CASALCO) in the medium project category in 2021. Recently, Diego Aguirre-Herreria, the USAID architect who provides guidance and approves all construction plans for ASHA-funded projects, visited the new annex along with two USAID/El Salvador environmental officers. They were very impressed with the building and all the LEED features that were incorporated within the design.

“We are grateful to USAID for their funding and Don Bosco University for the successful conclusion of this project,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions. “The COVID-19 pandemic caused delays and cost overruns, but Don Bosco University ensured the project had a successful completion. Even procuring the equipment was a challenge for the university because of supply chain issues and price increases, but they made it work. The team showed perseverance in an uncertain time, and we are grateful for their hard work and dedication.”

In the final quarter of the project, Don Bosco University made strides in women empowerment and inclusion in STEM education. The Salvadoran electricity distribution company, Delsur, and Don Bosco University launched the Delsur Stem Academy training program to promote women in STEM careers and reduce the gender gap in the field.

The program motivates second- or third-year high school students, who are daughters of employees of the Del Sur company or who come from educational centers near their areas of influence, to study in areas of science and technology. Young women will have the opportunity to train in four major areas including robotics, electronics, mechanics and renewable energy. In addition, they will carry out field visits to the company to learn about the experience of women working in their areas of specialization.

Don Bosco University is one of the most prestigious institutions of higher education in the country, particularly in the technical and technological sectors. The university has close to 6,000 students enrolled and maintains a strong link to the local employment sector through research, technology transfer programs, continuing education courses and consultancy services. Degree programs are offered in engineering, social sciences, humanities, economics, technology and aeronautics, among others.

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Sources:

Don Bosco University

Salesian Missions

Salesian Missions – El Salvador

USAID American Schools and Hospitals Abroad

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MEXICO

(MissionNewswire) The new Latin American Center for Comprehensive Care for Spinal Cord Injuries was inaugurated on Aug. 16 in Guadalajara, Mexico. The event included a Catholic Mass, the ribbon cutting, a ceremony of speeches and videos, and a social hour. The new treatment center was developed for people living with spinal cord injuries thanks to funding Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco, received from the U.S. Agency for International Development’s American Schools and Hospitals Abroad (USAID/ASHA) program.

The “Raising Standards of Care for Spinal Cord Injury Patients” project constructed and equipped Mexico’s first comprehensive treatment and rehabilitation center to assist patients who have been paralyzed by spinal cord injuries, with a special focus on youth. The center is outfitted with state-of-the-art equipment such as advanced rehab exercise bikes, kinesitherapy equipment for upper and lower limbs, walking support and electric standing frames. The center also generates and promotes new science and technology for the treatment, care, and rehabilitation of patients with spinal cord injuries for their independence and reintegration.

It is anticipated that in the first four years in operation, the center will treat at least 500 patients with spinal cord injuries, mainly youth and adults between the ages of 12-35 who live in poverty and a state of high vulnerability. This will also indirectly benefit thousands of family members who are responsible for the care of the patients, as well as health care professionals who will benefit from new technologies and methods for treating spinal cord injuries.

Fr. Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions, in a message spoke of Salesian Missions’ partnership with USAID/ASHA. He said, “Together, we have enhanced cooperation by strengthening local capacity and leadership to help young people and vulnerable populations become self-sufficient, contributing members of society.”

The “Raising Standards” project will also provide specialized occupational therapy to retrain people in skills needed to independently carry out typical household chores and activities. This includes a simulated kitchen to help patients to learn how to maneuver and cook with their new physical circumstances. Office and bedroom simulation areas will also be a part of the project.

Salesian Missions has two local implementation partners including Don Bosco Wheels and Vinculos y Redes, a civil organization providing support in the education field. Don Boco Wheels currently connects with people newly afflicted by spinal cord injuries in the hospital and provides information to help them overcome mobility challenges. Don Bosco Wheels will continue to meet with women patients to provide services and will encourage them to participate in the treatment center as the project develops. A 2021 donation of a passenger truck to transfer patients to the rehabilitation center has encouraged more patients to participate.

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Sources:

Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

Salesian Missions – Mexico

USAID

World Bank – Mexico

The post MEXICO: Latin American Center for Comprehensive Care for Spinal Cord Injuries inaugurated first appeared on MissionNewswire.

(MissionNewswire) Thanks to funding Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco, received from the U.S. Agency for International Development’s American Schools and Hospitals Abroad (USAID/ASHA) program, Salesian missionaries have been able to launch building projects to improve the standard of medical care for people in El Salvador and Mexico. The projects are a mix of construction, equipment purchases and training to improve health care outcomes for people with physical disabilities.

Don Bosco University in San Salvador, El Salvador, is empowering the next generation of medical rehabilitation practitioners to transform the lives of people with mobile disabilities through its “Walking Anew!” project. The project has expanded and upgraded the facilities at Don Bosco University’s School of Rehabilitation Science and the equipment used to train medical rehabilitation professionals. The project is pioneering innovative techniques in the treatment of people with disabilities.

The construction of the new building, which houses the Applied Research Center, allows for the exchange of information with professionals in the field at an international level as well as provides space for a new podiatry laboratory and other specialized practices. The program has already trained people from El Salvador, other countries in Central America, South America, Haiti, Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Following the success of the project in El Salvador, the “Raising Standards of Care for Spinal Cord Injury Patients” project is constructing and equipping Mexico’s first comprehensive treatment and rehabilitation center to assist patients who have been paralyzed by spinal cord injuries, with a special focus on youth.

The project runs from October 2018 through the end of September 2023. The Latin American Center for the Treatment of Spinal Cord Injuries, which is being built in Guadalajara, will be the only center in Mexico dedicated to serving the target population. Construction for the new center is continuing to progress as scheduled. Equipment is expected to be acquired in early 2022.

The “Raising Standards” project will provide specialized occupational therapy to retrain people in the skills they need to independently carry out typical household chores and activities. This includes a simulated kitchen to help patients to learn how to maneuver and cook with their new physical circumstances. Office and bedroom simulation areas will also be a part of the project.

“We are grateful to USAID for its support and funding for the construction projects in El Salvador and Mexico,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions. “People with disabilities have the same ability to achieve as their peers if given the opportunity. Projects like these help pave the way for advanced research, learning and innovation that help aid inclusion of people with disabilities in every facet of life, particularly in countries where limited services existed until now.”

These critical health infrastructure projects would not be possible without the support of USAID/ASHA funding, which is making a significant impact in these countries. Salesian Missions is grateful for the continued support and ability to impact health outcomes for people in poverty.

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Sources:

Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

Don Bosco University

EL SALVADOR: New building receives sustainable construction award

MEXICO: Construction continues on new spinal cord treatment center

Salesian Missions

USAID

USAID American Schools and Hospitals Abroad

The post GLOBAL: Projects improve care for people with disabilities in Mexico and El Salvador first appeared on MissionNewswire.

MEXICO

(MissionNewswire) A new treatment center is being developed for people living with spinal cord injuries thanks to funding Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco, received from the U.S. Agency for International Development’s American Schools and Hospitals Abroad (USAID-ASHA) program. The “Raising Standards of Care for Spinal Cord Injury Patients” project will construct and equip Mexico’s first comprehensive treatment and rehabilitation center to assist patients who have been paralyzed by spinal cord injuries, with a special focus on youth.

The project runs from October 2018 through the end of September 2023. The Latin American Center for the Treatment of Spinal Cord Injuries, which will be built in Guadalajara, will be the only center in Mexico dedicated to serving the target population. Construction for the new center is continuing to progress as scheduled. In July, the foundation was laid, and the walls, including masonry work, were built. The roof work began in August, and roofing for the physical therapy, electrotherapy and gym sections of the building was completed in September. Work also began on the façade, electrical installation, and distribution of the connections. Equipment is expected to be acquired in the beginning of 2022.

“The state-of-the-art treatment and rehabilitation center will be equipped with cutting-edge technology and innovative resources,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions. “In addition to treating patients, the center will also generate and disseminate new science and technology. Within its first four years, it is anticipated that the center will treat 500 patients with spinal cord injuries, mainly youth and young adults between the ages of 12-35 who live in poverty and in a state of high vulnerability.”

People who use wheelchairs in Mexico face difficulties in traversing city streets independently. With a lack of elevators and accessibility in public transportation and work places, people with spinal cord injuries struggle to be given the chance to succeed.

Women who have endured spinal cord injuries face challenges in completing typical household chores that were once under their care, such as cooking, cleaning, and laundry. Statistical research by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development shows that Mexican women dedicate more than triple the amount of time on household chores and activities as compared to Mexican men.

The “Raising Standards” project will provide specialized occupational therapy for both women and men to retrain them in skills needed to independently carry out typical household chores and activities. This includes a simulated kitchen to help patients to learn how to maneuver and cook with their new physical circumstances. Office and bedroom simulation areas will also be a part of the project.

Don Bosco on Wheels, Salesian Missions’ implementation partner in Mexico, currently connects with people newly afflicted by spinal cord injuries in the hospital and provides information to help them overcome mobility challenges. Don Bosco Wheels will continue to meet with women patients to provide services and will encourage them to participate in the treatment center as the project develops. The recent donation of a passenger truck to transfer patients to the rehabilitation center has encouraged more patients to participate.

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Sources:

Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

Salesian Missions – Mexico

USAID

World Bank – Mexico

The post MEXICO: Construction continues on new spinal cord treatment center first appeared on MissionNewswire.

EL SALVADOR

(MissionNewswire) Don Bosco University in San Salvador, El Salvador, is empowering the next generation of medical rehabilitation practitioners to transform the lives of people with mobile disabilities through its “Walking Anew!” project. This project was made possible thanks to a grant from the U.S. Agency for International Development’s American Schools and Hospitals Abroad (USAID-ASHA) program secured by Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco.

The “Walking Anew!” project is expanding and upgrading the facilities at Don Bosco University’s School of Rehabilitation Science and the equipment used to train medical rehabilitation professionals. The project is pioneering innovative techniques in the treatment of people with disabilities.

The construction of the new building, which houses the Applied Research Center, allows for the exchange of information with professionals in the field at an international level as well as provides space for a new podiatry laboratory and other specialized practices. The program has already trained people from El Salvador, other countries in Central America, South America, Haiti, Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

With the new building, Don Bosco University will become the first university in El Salvador with a building built under LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) parameters. The building has incorporated aspects related to energy efficiency, the use of alternative energies, the improvement of indoor environmental quality, the efficiency of water consumption, the sustainable development of open spaces on land and the selection of environmentally friendly materials.

The annex building, which houses a laboratory and research building for people with mobility disabilities, recently won the Sustainable Construction Award granted by the Salvadoran Chamber of Construction (CASALCO) in the medium project category.

“We are grateful to USAID for its ongoing support and funding and exceptional job done by Don Bosco University in the construction of this new building,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions. “People with disabilities have the same ability to achieve as their peers if given the opportunity. Projects like this help pave the way for advanced research, learning and innovation that help aid inclusion of people with disabilities.”

Don Bosco University is also updating technological infrastructure for the existing orthosis and prosthesis laboratories as well as for movement and gait analysis. Similarly, the Applied Research Center will be equipped with the necessary technology for the exchange of knowledge and experiences with physical and academic rehabilitation centers identified in the United States and Latin America. A specialized laboratory area has been prepared, and third-year students studying to be technicians began using the space for the Practice in Orthotics and Prosthesis II class.

In September 2021, Don Bosco University Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences held an open house to provide a presentation to those interested in technician careers in orthotics and prosthetics.

Don Bosco University is one of the most prestigious institutions of higher education in the country, particularly in the technical and technological sector. The university has close to 6,000 students enrolled and maintains a strong link to the local employment sector through research, technology transfer programs, continuing education courses and consultancy services. Degree programs are offered in engineering, social sciences, humanities, economics, technology and aeronautics, among others.

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Sources:

Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

Don Bosco University

Salesian Missions

Salesian Missions – El Salvador

USAID American Schools and Hospitals Abroad

The post EL SALVADOR: New building receives sustainable construction award first appeared on MissionNewswire.

NICARAGUA

(MissionNewswire) The University Clinic for Women and Children Santa Rita de Casia, part of the Catholic University of the Dry Tropics in Estelí, Nicaragua, is working to improve medical care for people with limited economic resources in the northern zone in the departments of Estelí, Madriz and Nueva Segovia. This project was made possible thanks to a grant from the U.S. Agency for International Development’s American Schools and Hospitals Abroad (USAID-ASHA) program secured by Salesian Missions, the U.S. development arm of the Salesians of Don Bosco.

The project, which runs from October 2019 to the end of September 2023, is currently in initial stages of construction with initial planning nearing completion. Once the facility is completed and equipped, the medical-surgical clinic for women and children will provide high-quality obstetrics, pediatrics and gynecology services. The clinic, created according to U.S. standards, will promote the U.S. values of gender equity, scientific excellence and equal access to quality medical care.

“With the support of USAID, Salesians in Nicaragua are improving access to medical care for people with limited economic resources, particularly women and children,” said Father Gus Baek, director of Salesian Missions. “This project is also providing practical experience for medical students as they train to become medical professionals. This will help to improve the overall medical care and expertise available in this part of Nicaragua.”

Santa Rita de Casia Medical Dispensary, which is also a part of this project and the Catholic University of the Dry Tropics medical school program, started providing outpatient care to the general public in July. There are 25 fourth-year medical students who help manage the patients through assigned rotations four days a week. These students work under the supervision of three teachers, two specialists and a general practitioner.

First-year medical students have also benefited from the clinic. One hundred first-year students had the opportunity to take part in training and practice in medical-surgical procedures, including first aid, taking vital signs and primary health care. These students were under the supervision of a specialist teacher.

To date, 180 patients have received general or specialty medical care. The clinic has seen an increasing number of patients since it opened.

There is also a dental clinic available for the general public. From July to September, 1,096 patients received dental check-ups and 1,306 dental treatments have been performed including regular dental cleanings, dental implants, surgeries and restorations.

Nicaragua, the poorest country in Central America and the second poorest in the Western Hemisphere, has widespread underemployment and poverty with a quarter of its population living below the poverty line, according to the World Bank. More than 80 percent of Nicaragua’s poor live in remote rural communities where access to basic services is a daily challenge.

Years of widespread poverty have taken their toll and many residents suffer from poor health conditions including HIV/AIDS. In addition, crime, violence against women, gang violence and high unemployment result in challenging economic and social conditions, particularly for young people and women.

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Sources:

Photo courtesy of Salesian Missions (contact for usage permissions)

Catholic University of the Dry Tropics

Salesian Missions – Nicaragua

World Bank – Nicaragua

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