MAP
Latin America
including MAP Bolivia
Office
Mission:
MAP Latin America promotes and facilitates the work of Christian leaders who are committed
to holistic health in the region.
Major Programs
- AIDS
- Total Health Communication
- Christian Transformation Networks
- Leadership
- Community Development
Regional Situation
Health problems in Latin America can no longer be approached
solely from the perspective of traditional medical care. The political, economic,
demographic, and sociocultural changes that have occurred on the continent over the past
three decades have led to a highly complex health situation.
That is the assessment of the Pan American Health Organization
(PAHO). PAHO identifies governments, institutions, and citizens themselves as those
responsible for developing a strategy that views health promotion as a social good. MAP
Latin America has been working to expand the definition of health to include physical,
social, spiritual, emotional and cultural for several years. And MAP has identified the
church as a key institution in this work. The church has the manpower, the grass roots
organization, regional coordination and the moral obligation to be involved in issues of
social justice and health.
The church faces a number of struggles, however, in its ability
to respond to these health needs. They include:
- Increase in poverty and social problems.
- A lack of participation on the part of the church to deal with
these issues.
- A lack of unity among Christian organizations and a lack of
coordinated efforts to respond to the needs of Christian leaders.
- The lack of economic resources and coordination of efforts to
promote social development and holistic health.
MAP seeks to empower church-based organizations with the tools
needed to promote approaches to community health, family health, AIDS care and prevention
and leadership development. To that end, MAP is creating strategies to allow it to build
bridges, encourage opportunities for the exchanging of experiences, and to walk alongside
Christian leaders working to promote and defend life in the 22 countries of Latin America.
Health and Hope
Four years ago, Julio almost died. Dr. María Teresa helped save
him. He now is helping to save his family. With the doctor's encouragement, Julio left his
village the next year to receive training as one of the first holistic health promoters at
MAP's training center in Bolivia. Since then, his house, gardens and lifestyle have become
a model for his Quechua community in the highlands of Bolivia.
Not only has Julio implemented many of the concepts which he
learned in MAP's training courses, his neighbors are beginning to try some of his ideas.
Julio's training focused on using "appropriate technology" in five different
ways: physical health, nutrition, income generation, family and community relations, and
education methods. Today his neighbors can see what he learned through the vegetables he
grows in his organic garden, the rabbits he raises to provide protein for his family, the
way he keeps his house and grounds free from potential health risks, and the healthy
relationships between members of his family. They also see it through his involvement in
local vaccination campaigns and the health information he gives to his friends.
Program Descriptions
AIDS
MAP Latin America has developed several working strategies in
HIV/AIDS since 1992. MAP seeks to mobilize God's people in Latin America to confront the
epidemic of HIV/AIDS in three ways: production of a quarterly AIDS Bulletin, production of
an educational packet for women, and promotion of AIDS networks. The AIDS Bulletin and
educational materials transmit methodologies which present alternatives for addressing the
AIDS problem from different Latin American contexts.
Total Health Communication
To accomplish its mission in Latin America, MAP needs to know where the church is
heading. Therefore, contacts have been established with key Christian leaders throughout
the continent through participation in congresses, seminars, and workshops. The next
challenge will be to proclaim MAP's vision of the social responsibility of the church
through the media.
Christian Transformation Networks
This program emerges from the need for organizations and individuals to
collaborate in the name of church unity. Being a part of genuine reconciliation within the
Body of Christ is also a goal for MAP. Through the various national Christian
Transformation Networks, MAP is able to foment union between people, non-governmental
organizations and churches to develop joint actions which promote holistic health.
Leadership
Many of the region's problems lack answers due to a leadership crisis. In
response, MAP helped to provide training for indigenous leaders in Caliata, Ecuador, and
then shared this workshop with other developing country leaders gathered in the United
States. In Santiago, Chile, MAP explored new ways to encourage reconciliation with members
of the Pentecostal Studies Center of the Methodist Church. At the First Baptist Church of
Concepción, Chile, MAP discussed the holistic mission of the church using biblical models
based on service.
Community Development
MAP is working through the church to provide holistic health and health care
services in Cochabamba, Bolivia, and Siguatepeque, Honduras. In Bolivia, MAP's
Comprehensive Health Training Center has already trained over 140 holistic health
promoters in areas of physical health, nutrition, income generation, inter-relational
health, and educational methods. Besides working with the local Medical University and
non-profit organizations in the area, the training centers provide continuing education
courses for organizations and Christians interested in adopting the materials produced.
With MAP's help, Hospital Evangélico in Honduras has trained over 400 people in courses
at churches and schools, in the Nurse Auxiliary Training Center, in Bible Institutes and
in the community. Both of these training efforts include community outreach programs for
rural and marginal urban areas which are models for other organizations working in their
regions.
Message from the Regional Director
Mauricio Solis Paz
There are many challenges Latin-American Christians must face to
accomplish their calling to be the salt and light of the continent. To work in the midst
of a context of increasing poverty makes their mission a harder task, yet it does not mean
it is impossible. The promotion of holistic health is more necessary every day. Thus we
feel the calling to be promoters of a complete life -- in a physical, emotional, social,
cultural and political sense. Christian organizations, individuals and congregations must
coordinate their efforts. MAP-LA wants to build bridges, promote unity and facilitate
reconciliation which will allow the Church to more effectively fulfill its holistic
mission.
MAP-LA can't do this by itself. We need your time, ideas,
prayers, experience and material resources. We offer you a great opportunity to join with
us by sharing the gifts you have been given by God to help serve people in need throughout
the region. Give us your hand and take ours; come near, we want to know you and build
together new bridges of hope.
Mauricio Solís Paz has been the regional director of MAP
Latin America since 1995. A Honduran, he now lives in Quito, Ecuador, with his wife,
Patricia, and three children. He has a degree in psychology from the National University
in Honduras and a specialty in community development.
