Summary

Key program components

The activities facilitated by Pro Mujer include:

• Reproductive health consultations
• Family planning guidance and information regarding signs of early pregnancy
• Building awareness of topical health issues
• Specialized health campaigns focused on dentistry, gynecology, gastroenterology, and eye care
• Healthy child development and the detection of malnutrition

Pro Mujer has installed consultation units in each of their Focus Centers, where clients regularly repay their small loans. There are a total of 26 Focus Centers, each with a health unit composed of obstetricians and nurses who carry out primary care services. All Pro Mujer clients and their families have access to consultation services; get family planning guidance and advice in important health issues in the family. Regular health education is provided during scheduled payment and repayment meetings. Educational sessions are provided by the center’s health personnel (obstetricians and nurses).

Additionally, Pro Mujer counts on four mobile clinics which provide dental and sonogram services. These clinics are adapted vehicles, each of which has been converted into two consultation units: one for dentistry with an exam seat and accompanying dental instruments, and the other composed of a gynecological exam bed and sonogram machine. The clinics are operated by a team of specialists and doctors, who generally hail from recognized regional hospitals and institutions. The mobile clinics allow Pro Mujer to provide advanced health services to rural areas also served by their microfinance program. In some cases the units travel to areas not yet operated in by Pro Mujer but where they hope to eventually develop financial services. The clinics also include an educational component.

Along with the mobile clinics, Pro Mujer also carries out specialized campaigns thanks to partnerships with regional doctors. As the campaigns are carried out special discounts are given to the population for services at the institutions with which Pro Mujer has partnerships. Pro Mujer provides its services primarily in the areas of Puno, Juliaca, Arequipa, Moquegua, Ilo and Tacna. It also provides some services in Apurimac, Abancay and Cuzco. The health protection program is sustained financially with the help of subsidies for non-variable costs, and in some cases with Pro Mujer’s own resources. Variable costs are paid by the clients themselves. Pro Mujer is also operational in Bolivia (See CHMI's profile for Pro Mujer Bolivia).

In 2010, this program served 32,000 clients.