Wednesday, after returning from our trip to the mountains, back to the school we went to begin the second module of the course. For this module I will study clinical nutrition. I am already loving this module! We jumped right in to lectures on several topics related to nutrition for pregnant mothers and infants. Wednesday afternoon, after several fascinating lectures, we headed back to Manchay to talk with breastfeeding moms. As my professors here say, "Peruvians are breastfeeding champions!" The majority of moms here breastfeed their babies for at least 6 months, which is awesome!
Tuesday morning we took compared samples of breast milk taken prior to actually breastfeeding and compared them to samples taken right after the mother feed her child. The sample from before feeding was almost all water and a tiny bit of fat. The sample after was much more fat. The milk starts as water to hydrate the baby then becomes more fatty to give the baby the nutrients it needs for growth and development and to make his tummy full. I am always amazed when I learn simple facts about the physiology of our bodies. I am blown away by how God created a woman's body to provide everything her child needs from life at conception to several months after birth.
Thursday we visited an orphanage on the other side of Manchay.
This was a wonderful orphanage, though it really did look
quite similar to the orphanage in the movie Annie. I believe that for the most
part it is self-sustaining. Most of the food is grown on the grounds. The have
pigs, cows, a goat, and (maybe..not positive) chickens. They also grow corn,
all kinds of fruit and berries, avocado, banana trees, peppers, and more.
The
older children tend to the animals and help with the gardening. They have a
bakery where they make all the bread for the kids to eat and also sell some for
income. The pigs used to be sold for profit but not are only raised and
slaughtered for meat.
He was such a dapper pig. Loved the camera!
One pig was the size of a large bear. He snotted on me
while I tried to take a picture by him. He was a handsome pig, none the less.
The kids attend chapel once a week in addition to their usual classes and
cooking, art, gardening, and music. The orphanage (called Casa de Santa Martha)
receives some funding from the government (I believe) as well as private
donations.
The kids were amazing. There are about 75 that currently
reside at Santa Martha. They come from the Ministry of Women which is a government
program that if I understood correctly is similar to the Ministry of Health but
specially for women. Some children have family, others do not. Very few children are adopted from this orphanage and when they are the orphanage is not involved in the process…it is all through
the Minister of Women. The kids were so cute, joyful, and full of life.
Two
little girls I really fell in love with. Wendy and the other I cannot remember.
They loved to be loved on. All of the children loved attention of course.
We were able to tour the building and see their sleeping quarters, bathrooms,
dressing rooms, and their little dentist clinic! I would love an opportunity to return.
Friday we visited a public hospital. It was HUGE and quite overwhelming. There were many people and the facility was unorganized and chaotic. There were large wards with several people--no private rooms. Many of the patients are brought in from other towns across the country to be treated for conditions that their local hospitable was not cable of. We were able to see talk with many patients. It was a great and very eye opening experience. I am excited to spend more time in the hospital next week.
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