Other Program Locations

El Salvador

Established: 1993
Workshops: 14
Follow-up Workshops: Over 10
Projects: 684

PSBH Workshops: Over 10 (including follow-up workshops)
PSBH Follow-up Workshops:
PSBH Workshop Participants: 698
PSBH Projects: 522

PSBHI Workshops: 4
PSBHI Follow-up Workshops: 10
PSBHI Workshop Participants: 162
PSBHI Projects: 162

Contact Information:
National Coordinator - PSBH
J. Ignacio Paniagua
Tel & Fax: (503) 2263-2969
Email: mesares@navegante.com.sv

National Coordinator - CBH
Mauricio Lozano
Te & Faxl: (503) 2263-2969
Email: maurol@navegante.com.sv

Report of "Best Practices" in Latin America (Portuguese and Spanish)

The Problem Solving for Better Health^® (PSBH^®) program was first launched in El Salvador in 1993, one year after the signing of the peace agreement that ended 12 years of civil war. Since its inception, several workshops, attended by both local and international facilitators and participants, have been conducted, and important partnerships have been established with local institutions, hospitals, and other non-governmental organizations. Various workshops have been held in collaboration with the Department of Community Medicine at the Dr. Matias Delgado University, the Healthy Cities Initiative of the Mayor's Office in San Salvador, the vicariate of the Catholic Church, and the metropolitan branch of the Rotary Club.

The main objectives of the program are:
1) To empower the participants to develop creative projects that will directly benefit individuals and communities.
2) To establish an intercommunicating web of former participants to share their experiences.
3) To work with the community in order to improve health.

The Problem Solving for Better Health Initiative™ (PSBHI™) program was established in collaboration with the Salvadoran Medical Association for Social Responsibility (MESARES). Objectives and accomplishments include increased community participation for solving health issues and achievement of efficient institutional and intercommunity coordination toward this goal.

The Communications for Better Health^® (CBH^®) program is coordinated under the direction of Dr. Mauricio Lozano, vice president of MESARES, an association of Salvadoran doctors affiliated with International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW). A digest, Comunicando Para Mejor Salud, has been produced and distributed three times per year since 1996. The program supports the information needs of its readers, the majority of whom are physicians and medical students, by conducting database searches on requested topics and providing full-text delivery of articles. The digest is an important educational tool for raising awareness about different health prevention and promotion activities, covering topics such as cholera, dengue fever, domestic abuse/violence, gastrointenstinal disorders, leptospirosis, respiratory diseases, road/highway safety, and others.

Country: El Salvador
City: San Salvador

Health and Social Areas Addressed:

Communicable/Infectious Diseases:
Gastrointestinal Diseases
HIV/AIDS
Malaria
Parasitic Diseases
Sexually Transmitted
Diseases (STDs/STIs)
Skin Diseases
Tuberculosis
Other Communicable Diseases
Demographic Groups:
Adolescents/Teen Health
Children's Health
Elder Health
Men's Health
Women's Health
Economic Issues:
Employment/Job
Skills/Training
Income Generation
Occupational Health/Work Safety
Resources (human, equipment, funding)
Transportation (V- Economic)
Other Economic Issues
Environmental Health:
Air Pollution
Animal/Insect/Pest Control
Waste Management
Water Supply/Quality
Other Environmental Issues
Health Care & Policy Issues:
Access to Health Facilities/Services
Aging/Elder Care
Bioethics
Children's Health/Child Care
Clinics/Clinic Administration
Curative Medicine/Surgery
Health Care Workers
Health Equality/Inequality
Health Promotion/Lifestyles
Hospitals/Hospital Administration
Injury/Trauma/Safety
Nurses (including students)
Physicians (including students)
&Other Health Care & Policy Issues
Health Promotion/Lifestyles:
Dental/Oral Health
Diet/Exercise/Fitness
Hygiene
Nutrition/Malnutrition
Obesity
Smoking
Substance Abuse
Vaccination
Vitamin Intake
Other Health Promotion/Lifestyle Issues
Mental Health:
Psychological/Psychiatric Disorders
Stress
Thought, Mood & Behavior Disorders
Other Mental Health Issues
Noncommunicable Diseases:
Allergies
Cancer
Cardiovascular Disorders
Diabetes
Endocrine Disorders
Foot Disorders/Foot Care
Gastrointestinal Disorders
Genitourinary Disorders
Musculoskeletal Disorders
Neurological Disorders
Respiratory Disorders
Skin Disorders
Other Noncommunicable Diseases
Nutrition:
Dietary Habits
Food Safety
Health Promotion/Lifestyles
Obesity
Other Nutrition Issues
Sensory Function:
Hearing
Nasal Function
Vision
Other Sensory Function Issues
Social Issues/Services:
Community Organization
Crime
Cultural Beliefs/Perceptions
Domestic Abuse/Violence
Education/Skill Building
Family Structure/Function
Interpersonal Relationships
Politics
Quality of Life Issues
Religious Beliefs/Customs
Other Social Issues
Women's Health/Reproductive Health:
Family Planning
Teenage Pregnancy
Prenatal/Postnatal Care
Other Reproductive Health Issues