Technical Cooperation News

Costa Rica Office

Cooperating Nishimura puts their bit to improve the health of upaleños

Volunteer Takahito Nishimura teaches a group of students physical exercises to improve body health. Photo courtesy of Mr. Nishimura.

JICA. Upala, Costa Rica. 28/03/2014. Two years ago Takahito Nishimura, local development specialist, decided to pack their luggage and fill it with their knowledge and creativity to bring from Japan to the canton of Upala a municipality located in Alajuela edge border with Nicaragua.

This traditional rural town is inhabited by about 45 thousand residents and its economy revolves around livestock and crop grains, citrus, and pineapple. While there have been efforts to improve their situation, according to the "Atlas of Human Development in Costa Rica 2011," Upala was rated among the 20 counties with the lowest human development.

In this context, "Nishi", as he is known in the community, focused on a plan to improve the health conditions of the inhabitants of the area. To do this, he joined its work to the local office of the Ministry of Health. Recognizing that prevention and discipline is the strongest weapon to overcome health problems, decided to focus their efforts in children through three main areas: facilitating workshops school health promoting composting Takakura and establishing a school garden that combines nutritional needs with the principles of recycling organic materials.

In the field of school health, Takahito used his originality and a number of techniques for health promotion in japan learned. He focused on improving the culture of handwashing, disclosure of the basis of healthy nutrition, the detrimental effects of excessive sugar consumption, the importance of brushing teeth and physical activity. Subsequently, addressed aspects of recreation through origami and promoted environmental protection. All these aspects are part of a holistic view of health.

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On the topic of hand washing, Nishi realized that the best way to learn is by doing and observing the consequences of what was done. So he structured his workshop in an explanatory component, one experimental and one practical. The children practiced with him the hand washing process and also by applying a chemical compound, could see the difference between clean and dirty hands. The cooperating supplemented this with the placement of interpretive signs in strategic areas of the visited schools. The Japanese applied a similar methodology to promote tooth brushing.

When he explained on the subject of healthy nutrition, glimpsed the impact on infants know the food groups and recognition. To do this he devised a participatory dynamic generation based on drawings made by the students themselves and a subsequent classification by the group.

One of the most difficult habits to change in the school population is the consumption of food and beverages loaded with sugar. Nishimura assumed The cooperating Nishimura shows the materials used in some of the the challenge that children knew the workshops that facilitated the Costa Rican city of Upala. negative effects of eating too much product. Then he explained the consequences on health and led a riddle for school might know the sugar content of beverages. In addition, Nishi made them sugar water test at room temperature with the amount present in some soft drinks, with the result that the children felt too sweet flavor.

These themes were built especially for the growth of obesity in the Costa Rican population. For the same reason, he joined in his visits to schools to promote physical activity. The kids got to hear a talk about it and drills and exercises outdoors.

Health is directly related to recreation, exercise, plus pontenciar a healthier body, can also become an important element in mental health. Takahito tried to strengthen this aspect through lectures and practices of Japanese culture, especially learning origami, a technique that was extremely attractive in schools.

All this learning could be shared by children with their parents at the Health Fair in Moreno Cañas, where he also received the support of other Japanese aid workers who traveled to the city to participate in this event which was attended by about 150 people.

But human health is not only physical and mental, is also tied to the way we relate to our environment. Therefore, Nishi decided to join the group of donors who came

The partners of the Ministry of Health show JICA officials some of together to raise awareness of the Takakura the routes of the town. method, a composting system ideal for homes and restaurants.

Then conducted a workshop in five different schools with a very attractive explanatory material and tried to apply in school cafeterias to composting was used as fertilizer in gardens in schools.

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This information was shared by the volunteer in the presentation of his report on the work done on March 4 in front of JICA staff in Costa Rica and the Ministry of Health Upala. Takahito Nishimura launched their bit in the community of Upala, a grain that seems to have become seed hope fall on fertile ground.Thanks Nishi!

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