Meet Community Health Worker, Aura Nidia. Her Mission: Saving Claudia
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Aura Nidia was trained by Save the Children in 2006. Photo credit: Brent Stirton/Getty Images |
Nicaragua — Since 2006, Aura Nidia, now age 17, has served her community as a brigadista, a volunteer health worker, trained and equipped by Save the Children to be a critical first line of defense against illnesses that threaten children's lives.
Aura Nidia lives in a remote farming community in Nicaragua. The nearest health post is five miles away on steep, rocky roads that turn to mud when it rains. The post is only open two or three mornings a week. So when children in the community get sick, their families turn first to health workers like Aura Nidia who live close by and are available 24 hours a day.
Two years ago, when Aura Nidia was 15, a woman rushed to her house carrying a very sick 2-year-old girl named Claudia. The woman was Claudia's aunt who was caring for Claudia while her mother was away. Claudia had breathing difficulties, convulsions, bloody diarrhea and was vomiting. Aura Nidia had never seen such a sick child before, and she says she was a little bit afraid, but she remembered her training and stayed calm.
Claudia Needs Immediate Medical Attention
Aura Nidia evaluated Claudia's condition and recognized the need for immediate medical attention. Claudia's aunt took her to the nearest health post and--as a result of Aura Nidia's referral--Claudia was rushed by ambulance to the nearest hospital 50 miles away. Claudia was admitted immediately and diagnosed with severe, life-threatening pneumonia.
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Aura Nidia, community health worker, age 17, with Claudia, age 4, and Claudia's mother, Alejandra. Photo credit: Brent Stirton/Getty Images |
Claudia's mother Alejandra was far away at this time, working as a nanny in a neighboring country. Her family needed money, so she had to go away to find work and leave Claudia in the care of relatives.
Claudia had been in the hospital for two days when Alejandra got a call from her family telling her what had happened. "I felt so helpless," she said. "I cried and cried. I came home immediately."
After eight days of treatments in the hospital, Claudia's symptoms subsided and her mother was able to bring her home. Claudia is now four years old and in good health.
Alejandra sums up the impact of Save the Children's community health worker program: "If Aura Nidia hadn't been here, my daughter probably would have died."
Last Updated November 2009
