The House of Waiting, in Haquira, Peru. The facility has been providing women in the latter stages of pregnancy with a safe place to come for the last 17 years, but the dilapidated home is in desperate need of remodeling.
Local health outposts provide basic medical care to Peruvian women, but they cannot handle late-stage pregnancy and childbirth. Women in their final stages of pregnancy walk to La Casa de Espera because there is supervised care by nurses 24 hours a day. When it’s time to give birth, the nurse summons an ambulance, and the mother-to-be is transported to a nearby hospital to give birth.
Esperança is hoping to raise $37,000 to remodel the 1,050 square foot home that has three bedrooms with four beds in each room plus one bedroom for the nurse on duty. The home provides medical care for up to 12 women at one time. Last year, La Casa de Espera served approximately 100 women.
“We are one of the only homes like this in the area, and we know the women are counting on us to continue to provide care,” said McKenzie Simmons, Director of Development for Esperança.
To make a donation or learn more about La Casa de Espera, contact McKenzie Simmons at [email protected].