GlobeMed at Rhodes

Who we are// GlobeMed at Rhodes

Founded in 2008, GlobeMed at Rhodes College is one of 46 GlobeMed chapters working to improve the health of people living in poverty around the world. We partner with A Ministry Of Sharing, Health and Hope (AMOS) in Nicaragua. Together we work in impoverished rural communities with a focus on water sanitation and nutrition. Throughout the year we also implement fundraising and educational initiatives to engage our campus and the surrounding Memphis Community.

Our Partner// A Ministry of Sharing Health and Hope (AMOS)

AMOS Health & Hope is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the health of poor and marginalized rural populations in Nicaragua, and has been a partner with GlobeMed at Rhodes College since January 2009. The organization was established in 2006 by two physicians and uses a strategy of community-based primary health care to increase health coverage in areas with limited services. AMOS trains lay health workers in rural communities to manage and their own community health clinic, prevent and treat the most common illnesses, and work on community development to address the root causes of poor health such as access to safe water and sanitation.

Our Project// $10,000 for a water sanitation program providing clean water to rural Nicaraguan families

GlobeMed aims to help purchase and transport supplies for the communities, provide training and instructional materials for assembling the filters, monitor water quality, measure attitudes towards water sanitation in various communities, capacity building for local health committee members to provide ongoing training, supervision, and biosand filter monitoring.

In 2011, GlobeMed launched it's pilot project with AMOS which built 424 biosand filters in 8 different communities over the course of the year, developed protocols on supervision, construction, and monitoring of biosand filters, improved quality control, and developed lab testing for water filters.

In 2012 we want to expand to 3 more communities, mainly in the provinces of Matagalpa and Boaco, which would reach a population of 1,793 people. This would require 220 new water filters to be produced. Because the program is being expanded AMOS is also looking to create an entirely new staff position to work on water filter supervision and training as well as follow up in the communities that we are working on.