Pro Mujer Bolivia is a microfinance development institution which provides health services to their clients as an integral part of their programming.
Healthy CRECER
Approach
Target geography
Target Population
Target income level
- Bottom 20%
- Lower-middle income (20-40%)
- Middle-income (40-60%)
Health focus
- Primary care
CHMI PLUS Status
Profile Completeness Rating
none
Monitoring & Evaluation Reporting
Summary
Rural Credit with Education (CRECER) is a Financial Development Institution which works with Credit Associations to provide financial and educational services to poor women with the ultimate goal of improving their quality of life and that of their families.Key program components
During the last 5 years CRECER has investigated, tested, and launched an innovative health program which is comprised of 3 phases or levels, each of which connects to the next in a complementary manner. **Education:** Educational sessions are delivered to clients in each payment meeting every 2 weeks or once a month. Health discussions are based on client demand, and experts are invited to address specific health topics. Workshops last approximately 2 hours and all interested clients are invited to attend. **Health care:** CRECER has established agreements with healthcare institutions which allows the organization to refer its clients to reduced-cost services at the participating institution. They also organize “Jornadas de Salud” that are special days in which CRECER agencies organize visits of specialized medical personnel from partner institutions. During the day, the personnel give educational sessions, do blood work, lab examination, diagnostics, etc., depending on their specialty. There are two types of jornadas: those held specifically for CRECER clients and those open to the entire community. **Credit services:** There are two credit products for healthcare. Both are evaluated, approved, and guaranteed by the Credit Association. 1.) Crédito Oportuno (Timely Credit) - Small amounts designed to cover health emergencies (illness, accident, etc.) 2.) Crédito de Salud (Health Credit) - Larger amounts designed to cover treatment and surgery. In this case the client should present the prescription and medical diagnosis detailing the need for treatment and/or surgery.
Scale
Number of personnel employed:
100 or more
In the past year, has the program scaled by:
Describe the program's expansion:
Number Active Clients in Health Program increased from 30,580 in 2011 to 37,840 in 2012
Financials
Primary source of funding:
Revenue
Revenue Sources
: Interest on loansMembership/subscription feesAdditional source(s) of funding:
Donor
Funder(s):
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Parent Organizations
Yes, there is a separate organization that manages or implements this program.
- CRECERNot-for-profit
Related Programs
PROSALUD is a private, non-profit, Bolivian Civil Association that works faithfully for more than 25 years in Bolivia with the mission of “Contributing to the protection of health in a socially-responsible manner as an aid to human development.”
CEMSE is a Catholic organization which has operated in Bolivia for more than 20 years under the mission of strengthening the education system and children's health through its School Health Program and approach of combining healthcare, education improvement and intergenerational participation.
Marie Stopes Bolivia approaches the subjects of sexual and reproductive health in men and women creatively through the provision of established and mobile services, aiding in the financing of services for low-income families, social marketing and participative, inclusive education.
Pro Mujer’s Peru health protection program consists of a series of activities integrated with their microfinance services. This allows for their clients to have access to reproductive health, education, awareness, and prevention of irreversible diseases.
