Living in Poverty in Mexico

Poverty, something I’ve never experienced, but have had the opportunity to spend time in the midst of.  When working with orphaned and abandoned children in Mexico there seem to be this reoccurring theme.  Many of the children who found themselves living in an orphanage were there due to the family’s lack of ability to provide.  One sweet girl, Angelica, arrived when she was five years old.  Then meeting her for the first time at age 11, she described herself as a girl with dreams and desires.  Her smile was like any other child’s smile, but her story very different than many others.  At age four her mom left her and her brother with their father.  For more than a year her father tried to provide and care for the children.  His conflict was one that many in poverty face, how to provide and care for the family.  He worked 6 days a week, 12 hour shifts.  The government of Mexico provides no supplemental support system to assist families who find themselves in great need.  This father found himself forced to choose.  Out of love for his children he took them to a nearby orphanage, where he knew that shelter and food would be acquired. 

The stressors of leaving your home, living with 100 other children in a slightly institutional setting would alter her developmental formation greatly. 

The government has yet to make a shift in policy in order to better support families in need.  Many churches and United States non profit organizations continue to focus on the needs of orphaned children and those living in extreme poverty.  Provisions made by these various groups include; clothing, educational materials, faith based materials, summer camps, food supplemental, financial donations and most importantly time.

Studies of children adopted from overseas orphanages revealed developmental delays in 50% to 90% at initial evaluation, with a significant proportion showing delays in multiple areas (commonly, language and motor skills). Children who lived in orphanages longer, and who had medical problems, exhibited a greater degree of delay.  (2012 Valley Health System)

Resource

Valley Health System, New Jersey. The Impact of Early Orphanage Live on Developmentation (2012) http://www.valleyhealth.com/Adoption.aspx?id=178

 Studies of children adopted from overseas orphanages revealed developmental delays in 50% to 90% at initial evaluation, with a significant proportion showing delays in multiple areas (commonly, language and motor skills). Children who lived in orphanages longer, and

Healthy Water Crisis

Water, something that we access without a second thought.  A nice warm shower, a cup of coffee, cooked pasta and formula for a baby.  These are just a few things that require water, clean water.  I turn on my tap and out it pours; hot, warm, cold, fast, slow.....without considering that 884 million people access unsafe drinking water sources yearly.  Inadequate amounts of water and unsafe drinking water kills and sickens thousands of children every day.  It is reported that 1.6 million children, under the age of 5,  die from diarrhoel diseases caused by contaminated water each year. 
There seems to be a universal understanding that clean water is a human right.  While partnerships throughout the world, some including UNICEF, Clean Water Action, Clean Water State Revolving Fund, ministry groups, private organizations, etc., work together to improve water supplies and sanitary conditions, the death toll of 4000 children, daily, continues. 
Proposed article 31 pushes forward the fight to include a 31st article in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states that the access of clean water is a human right.  This call to the United Nations is to make a revision to the originally established declaration, formed in 1948. 
Additional information and research reveals the increase in secondary illness' due to dirty water, which causes a reduction in school attendance and academic growth.  "Without access to water, education is almost impossible.   Dirty water leads to a cycle of disease, missed school days, and high drop-out rates - especially for girls", states The Water Project.  Communities that find a shortage of clean water experience great obstacles to helping oneself. They can't grow food, or go to school or work.  The overall community continues in a cycle of poverty. 
While it is hard for me to imagine the depths of despair that these communities, families and children experience I would like to consider how it relates to the children I work with.  I am always considering new opportunities to introduce healthy habits to my children.  I recognize that in many homes today children are not as active as they once were, they don't have access to fruits and vegetables and they may be surrounded by additionally harmful environments.  Good information and early teaching of healthy habits is an attempt to reduce illness and disease and to increase productivity.  Our physical health plays a role in our mental health and overall functioning, I believe it is my job to expose my children to the most preventative and holistic approaches, in order to create a healthy lifestyle.
Below you will find links to additional information regarding access to clean water and sanitation:
http://thewaterproject.org/schools/

http://thewaterproject.org/poverty.asp

http://www.unicef.org/wash/index_wes_related.html

http://article31.org/

http://www.unicefusa.org/work/water/

My Birth Expierence vs. A Birth Experience in Mexico

I had my first daughter in 1999, she was a planned pregnancy.  I had been married for 5 years prior to her birth and was surrounded by a supporting husband and extended family.  My pregnancy was a dream, no morning sickness, a weight gain of 29 pounds and lots of energy.  I worked up until 1 week before she was born and enjoyed each day of my pregnancy.  My husband and I took birthing classes and had determined that I would not opt for pain medications. We attended every prenatal appointment together and shared great joy during our ultra sound.  We carried a type of insurance that covered the entire prenatal care and birth at 100%.   I had been a long distance runner and felt that I had mastered the art of breathing and could apply it to the labor.  The due date came and went and I was eventually induced 7 days later.  I met the doctor at the hospital at 7:00 a.m. on Friday, July 14, 1999.  They decided to start an induction by vaginal placement rather than I.V., allowing my body to adjust over time.  I walked the halls most of that day.  They broke my water at 5:15 p.m. and she was born at 6:00 p.m.  After my water was broke I went in to full labor, fast and furious.  The nursing staff and doctor provided wonderful care and my husband stood by my side every moment.  Somewhere around 5:45 I decided it was crazy that I hadn't taken any pain medication, but it was too late to rectify the situation.  Born on that day was a beautiful 7lb 11.5 oz, 21.5 inch long baby girl, Jenna Evelyn.  It was the most beautiful experience.
In contrast to my birthing story I would like share a quote from an article, The Plight of Mexico's Indigenous Women, by Samuel Loewenberg.  He states, " Medically, the problem begins with a lack of prenatal visits, and then peaks catastrophically with the difficulty in accessing surgical care when complications occur during birth and in the days and weeks afterwards.

But the real culprits are poverty, insufficient education, poor transportation infrastructure, and a lack of medical staff. Overall, Mexico has made substantial progress in cutting its rate of maternal death. As a study in The Lancet recently noted, nationally maternal mortality has declined from 124 deaths per 100 000 livebirths in 1980, to 52 deaths per 100 000 by 2008. But the national numbers mask glaring inequalities, which continue to divide Mexico along lines of class, ethnicity, and geography."  Considering all that I have made available to me and my family it is most concerning the experiences that others, particularly the poor living in 2nd and 3rd world countries, have or don't have.  I had the priveledge of living a rural part of Mexico for 4 years,  while many of the rural areas have access to high quality health care facilities it is still only the wealthy that have access.  Universal healthcare is available to all, however the facilities that provide the care are often sub-par and/or dangerous.  Many of the families that I worked with during that time frame opted for minimal care during pregnancy due to transportation issues or lack of availability of care.  Many of the public health care centers provide care on a first come first serve basis, making a check up a 6-8 hour experience.  Culturally this has become a way of life for them, their experiences are part of a norm, however as a non resident of Mexico I realized the severe differences in care made available to U.S. residents.