Health Care
It is difficult for an entrepreneur to start and maintain a successful business without being healthy or with the burden of a sick family member. Most illnesses are preventable so in addition to providing basic preventative health education, we focus on the following areas:
- Cervical Cancer Prevention
- Dental Health and Hygiene
- HIV/AIDS Prevention
Cervical Cancer Prevention
Through partnership with international organizations as well as local private and public health care providers and clinics, the services and preventative care that Esperanza provides ensures that our associates and their family members have the opportunity to live healthy lives.
Tests are administered directly in the communities, in branch offices, as well as in local clinics.
A dentist poses with a patient after a cleaning.
Dental Health and Hygiene
On average each year, Esperanza hosts 7 total dental campaigns with mixed local and international dental professional teams that provide much needed dental care for associates and their families. These campaigns are done in partnership with Smiles for Life and Crown Council.
These events host dental professionals to clean teeth, extract, perform root-canals, bridges, and give preventative dental care talks to patients on how to maintain healthy teeth. Oral health is proven to greatly affect general health.
Esperanza y Vida
This program focuses on improving the lives of our associates living with AIDS or HIV. While the Dominican government has made it illegal for companies to test its job applicants or its current employees on their HIV status, it is in many cases done, which can make it extremely difficult for those living with the illness to find suitable employment.
Esperanza administers loans so that our associates can depend on themselves and their own business as income for their family. We also partner with local clinics and other partners to provide the necessary preventative education, pastoral counseling, nutritional counseling, and the medical treatment.