Erin Miller

I need donations to buy food for prepartum women living at the albergue (an the overnight house by the hospital) while they wait to go into labor. The pregnant women at the Albergue have been fairly receptive to my “charlas” on nutrition during pregnancy, infant and child nutrition, breastfeeding, and family planning methods. However, the woman who stay at the albergue are in extreme poverty and they often comment to me that they do not have enough to eat and that they are hungry. The woman are interested to know what they should be eating during pregnancy, but have difficulty acquiring the foods that I discuss in my talk. For about 500 lempiras (a bit less than 30 American dollars) I can buy the women a food or two from each of the four groups that I discuss as being especially important during pregnancy during my weekly “‘Que debe comer durante el embarazo?” charla. During my talk I mention the importance of calcium, protein, iron, and folic acid. I will be able to buy the women enough cheese, powdered milk, eggs, beans (and rice), avocados, and peanuts to last about a week. I would like to set up what will essentially be a little miniature WIC clinic here in La Esperanza. I can tell the woman what they should be eating, and then give them a food from each group. The women can prepare the foods themselves over the out-door stove and will receive practice in consuming foods important to a healthy pregnancy. While these woman are in the later stages of pregnancy, the food and nutrition information will still be extremely valuable. Most woman here take prenatal vitamins only during the first 6 months of their pregnancy. Those are the most important months to take the vitamins and it allows the women (and government programs that try to help support them) to save money. So the woman in the albergue are generally not taking prenatal vitamins, so receiving extra nutrients in their diets is especially important. Further, if I am able to impress upon them the importance of receiving these nutritents during their pregnancy, they may be more likely to consume these foods during the earlier stages of their next pregnancy. They will also be able to share this information with other women back in their villages. Another important advantage of this program is that providing food for the women at the albergue will encourage other women to come to stay at the albergue before giving birth, and this will help to lower extra-hospital maternal mortality.

The Albergue kitchen.


The first week of food donations
So, I am asking for your donations. Just $30 dollars will provide enough food for me to bring in each week. If you are interested in making a donation, please click on the button below.

A weeks worth of food, thanks to your donations





Working with community high school students

high school students leading condom demonstration

Distribution of family planning education