The organization’s activities include a program composed of community agents and community medicine chests through which they train community members to become health promoters with integrated health knowledge (including awareness of physical, social, emotional, spiritual and economic topics). While the health promoter does not possess formal medical training, they are provided with programs promoting health and illness prevention, which allow them to dispense generic medications at low cost.
The promotion and distribution of the medical chests was a result of the community´s needs and demands. The medical chests contain generic medications which can be managed and administered by community health promoters in emergency cases or when it is otherwise difficult for those in need to reach clinics, then the patients are referred to health centers. The principal functions of the health promoters are to prevent the misuse of medication, provide high-quality medications at low-cost, and promote traditional medicine.
A second program facilitated by MAP is the “Healthy Communities Program,” through which communities develop their own development plan by utilizing modern participatory techniques including: the rapid quality of life security analysis, the holistic global analysis, and an operational development plan. This program promotes the empowerment of communities needed to carry out their plans; community members generate strategic alliances (with the government and NGOs) which strengthen the advancement of their development plans. Some priority areas identified by certain communities include: health and environment, health and sanitation, access to education and food security, and financial improvement, among others.
There are currently three “Healthy Communities” executing their own projects with the support of MAP, one of which is Apatug. Apatug is located in the parish of Santa Rosa, which is 30 minutes from the city of Ambato. Their development plan includes activities related to promotion, prevention and health-related treatments, and their goal is to achieve “improved knowledge, practices, and attitudes regarding integrated health.” Their objectives include: the training of 40 community health facilitators as part of a holistic health program; implementation of a small community pharmacy in order to facilitate access to essential medications; and to begin a family hygiene and nutrition program. Apatug tracks their progress through a baseline.
Additional programs managed by MAP include the “RELIEF Program,” which is aligned with a global donation program providing access to medication and necessities. It works directly with communities affected by natural disasters and includes technical assistance and training regarding prevention and mitigation of disasters, emotional support, first aid, etc.
The Sexual Abuse Prevention Programs consists of training educators and parents regarding the rights of children and youth in terms of sexual abuse.
The Education, Integrated Sexuality, and Human Rights Program focuses on the education of youth and teachers regarding integrated sexuality education, the prevention of teen pregnancy, and HIV/AIDS.
