USAID project in Chuquisaca to Improve Housing

U.S. Embassy’s Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Christopher Lambert officially hands over 446 improved houses to combat Chagas disease in Icla municipality, in the department of Chuquisaca. This program, funded by the U.S. Government, remodeled rural homes, including new roofs, walls, and floors. It also built non-polluting ovens and cement latrines. The program also provided training in procedures to prevent Chagas’ disease and to improve the hygienic conditions in the houses. As a result of the program, the risks faced by residents of suffering from other diseases such as pneumonia and diarrhea also decreased. USAID’s overall assistance to Chuquisaca has been estimated at $11.7 million for the period 2007-2008.

Children at Candelaria community pose in front of their improved house. The improvement seeks to prevent infestation by vinchuca, an insect that infects humans with Chagas’ sickness. Two Bolivian NGOs, PROCOSI and Esperanza/Bolivia, channel USAID funds to combat Chagas’ sickness in Icla. This community-based health program will remodel approximately 1,000 rural homes in Chuquisaca.

A resident of Icla municipality shows her new kitchen, which includes a new non-polluting oven that prevents children from getting sick with respiratory illnesses. Between 2000 and 2005, USAID contributed to mobilize 195 communities in 18 municipalities in Chuquisaca and Tarija. As a result, more than 10,500 houses were rehabilitated and/or improved. The program’s success motivated USAID to extend the initiative and to continue working with PROCOSI to improve another 5,000 houses.