Maria’s Story: Pneumonia No More

In observance of World Pneumonia Day 2011, read the story of Maria, who suffered the loss of a child due to pneumonia. Learn more about front line health workers like Yamilda who battle this disease in some of the world's poorest and most remote communities.

At first glance, you might think the remote community of Cacao Minitas, high in the northern mountains of Nicaragua, is a place that time forgot. Families still live in the same small, wood-framed houses, with no electricity or indoor plumbing, and farm the same land for a living, like they’ve been doing for generations.

But one thing has changed, for the better. If you have a child with pneumonia — once the #1 killer of children under age 5 in Cacao Minitas — his or her chances of survival have improved dramatically in the past few years, thanks to a Save the Children program that trains and equips local volunteers to serve as community health workers, called brigadistas.

Brigadistas serve as a critical first line of defense against illnesses that threaten children’s lives in remote communities like this one, where the nearest health post is six miles away on steep, rocky roads and only open two or three mornings a week.

Your support means Yamilda Martínez, a Save the Children-trained community health worker is available to treat Yader’s frequent bouts of pneumonia. Credit: Brent Stirton/Save the Children

Standing beside her son’s grave, Maria shares why…

Ten years ago, Maria lost her 5-month-old son, Llener, to pneumonia. “When my son died,” Maria recalls, “we didn’t have help nearby.” Maria now cares for her 18-month-old grandson, Yader, who has had frequent bouts of pneumonia. But now there’s a trained health care worker nearby.

Maria stands beside the backyard grave of her son, Llener, who died of pneumonia 10 years ago. Thanks to you, things are better for Maria’s grandson, Yader. Credit: Brent Stirton/Save the Children

“It’s good to have Yamilda and Marvin in the community, because it’s a quick way to give the children the attention they need,” says Maria. “And to prevent deaths,” she adds.

Support Save the Children

Charitable contributions from people like you make it possible for us to train volunteer community health workers to care for little children like Yader, prevent and treat potentially fatal diseases like pneumonia, and so much more. Please support our mission and work around the world with a gift to our Global Action Fund. You can count on us to be good stewards of your generous donation, helping vulnerable children where the need is greatest with whatever they need the most.