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Esperança (non-profit)

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Esperança
Formation1970[1]
TypeNGO
Legal status501(c)(3) nonprofit
HeadquartersPhoenix, Arizona
Location
  • Arizona (Phoenix)
Interim President/CEO
Jeri Royce
Staff11
Websitehttp://www.esperanca.org

Esperança (non-profit), the Portuguese word for hope, is a registered 501(c)(3) based in Phoenix, Arizona, United States.[2][3] Founded in 1970 by Luke and Gerald Tupper. It currently operates programs in Mexico, Nicaragua, Bolivia, Peru, Mozambique and Phoenix, Arizona.[4][5]

History

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James Tupper, a recent graduate from the Medical College of Wisconsin, got his first look at medical deprivation and poverty in 1960 while traveling to Antarctica aboard a U.S. Navy ice-breaker.[6] The ship docked in Brazil. It was here where James was struck by those suffering from treatable diseases.[6]

When his military service was completed, he entered the Franciscan Order.[7] He chose the name Luke to reflect his dedication to serving those in need with his medical expertise.

Luke Tupper's Brother, Gerald Tupper, was a lawyer in Phoenix and formally incorporated Esperança into a non-profit in 1970. For the first 15 years Esperança operated out of a room in Gerald's law office.[8] Esperança moved to its permanent central Phoenix location in 1985.[9]

Project Areas

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Volunteer Surgical Program

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Medical missions are one of the focuses of Esperança. Due to his training in the medical field, Luke Tupper focused on providing medical services to those in need. In 1972 Esperança purchased the Point Loma Ferry. The ship was originally used for transporting passengers to and from Southern California's Coronado Island. Esperanca relocated the vessel to Brazil and it became a floating hospital providing treatment to the underserved.[10][11][12][13][14][15][16] Parts of the USS Bunker Hill (CV-17), a decommissioned aircraft carrier, were donated in order to convert the ship into a floating hospital.[17] The surgical program expanded into Bolivia in 1985 and terminated the program in 2014, once the native partner organization was self-sustaining.[18][19][20][21]

Currently, the surgical program operates in Nicaragua and Peru.[22] Medical professionals volunteer their time to provide surgeries to communities in need.[23] Volunteer surgeons, anesthesiologists, and nurses procure their own medical supplies, as well as accommodate their own airfare and volunteer their time to fly through the night and provide lifesaving surgery. Each volunteer surgical team travels approximately ten days, accomplishes between 25 and 45 surgeries, and can evaluate hundreds to be referred for other medical treatments

Donated Medical Supplies

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Esperança's Medical Supply Donation program delivers three cargo containers per year, carrying medical donations to under-resourced hospitals, clinics, and community health centers in Jinotega, Nicaragua - one of the most impoverished areas in Central America. Esperança's on-site assessment process ensures that every container delivered will meet specific needs of the recipient hospital or clinic, equipping the medical staff with life-saving tools to improve diagnosis, treatment, and care. Supplies are then used by their volunteer surgical teams on their mission trips.[24]

Each year, nearly 600 individuals, organizations, and corporations donate unused or gently used medical supplies and medical equipment that Esperança delivers to Nicaragua to support the severely resource- challenged communities to save lives, make diagnoses, and provide lifesaving surgeries. These supplies and equipment are essential to ensure that Esperança's partnering hospitals and clinics are equipped throughout the year with tools to transform lives.

Phoenix Program

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The Phoenix Program began in 1999 and currently provides health education on oral health, nutrition, fitness, and chronic disease management to uninsured and under-insured children and families.[25][26][27][28][29] Families are also referred to low-cost health resources and services. Education for adults includes evidence based curriculum informing community members on how to prepare healthy culturally appropriate meals.[30] In addition, a similar curriculum is in development for elementary aged children.[31] Esperança's work in Phoenix provides Promotores (Community Health Workers) opportunities to exchange information, share best practices and build skills. Salud con Sabor Latino (Health with a Latin Flavor) works to connect a network of Promotores and expand leadership opportunities for community members.

Water and Sanitation

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Recent water and sanitation projects have been developed with the assistance of the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering.[32] Communities are built around access to clean water through community wells, water systems and latrines. Each benefiting family participates in the construction of their water system, which in turn creates a personal ownership connection towards improving their health.

Nutrition and Food Security

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In 1977 Esperança moved from a curative approach to a preventive model of treatment. The program originated in Brazil and focused on nutrition, including education for mothers as well as recording the weight of their preschool aged children.[33] The program has since expanded to Nicaragua, Peru, Bolivia, and Mozambique.

Esperança invests in education and food-related micro-business that directly provide adequate sources of nutrition while simultaneously yielding profit from excess eggs, milk, grain, livestock, and crops.

These profits are often used to purchase additional food, replace the mud walls of homes, send children to school, gain access to clean water, or obtain needed medical care.

The following 2016 outcomes are notable in improving food security:

  • 1,763 agricultural producers received training to increase and expand crop yield
  • 122,576 pounds of food were distributed to 4,280 individuals
  • 845 heads of households attended training on nutrition and improving their diets.

Disease Prevention and Treatment

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Esperança is currently working on the prevention and treatment of Chagas disease in Bolivia.[34]

Financial Accountability

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Esperança currently has a four star rating by Charity Navigator.[35] The organization is currently funded through a combination of grants from private foundations and individual contributions. The United States Agency for International Development has also supported past projects. [36][37]

References

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  1. ^ Better Business Bureau. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
  2. ^ Brennan, Bryna (Dec 15, 1982). "U.S. Based Organization: Clinic Brings Hope to Amazon Villages". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
  3. ^ "IRS Exempt Organizations". Retrieved 27 July 2015.
  4. ^ Drain, Paul; Huffman, Stephen A. (2008). Caring for the World: A Guidebook to Global Health Opportunities. University of Toronto Press, Scholarly Publishing Division. p. 127. ISBN 978-0802095480.
  5. ^ "Health and development non-profit expands work to Peru". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  6. ^ a b Fortney, David L. (November 1984). "The Legacy of Doctor Luke". Reader's Digest.
  7. ^ Final Report: Analysis of Community-Level Nutrition Programs (PDF) (Report). United States Agency for International Development. 1980.
  8. ^ 1985 Congressional Record, Vol. 131, Page S6907 (May 23, 1985)
  9. ^ "Gerald DeEsten Tupper Obituary". Legacy.com. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
  10. ^ Rick, Lanning (July 18, 1977). "On His Floating Hospital, Dr. Harry Owens Fights Disease ad Superstition Along the Amazon". People Magazine. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  11. ^ Russell, Chandler (Jul 25, 1977). "Postscript: Old San Diego Ferry Now Vessel of Hope in Brazil's Backwaters". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
  12. ^ Steve, Cahalan (Jan 10, 1983). "Doctor seeks volunteers". Herald & Review. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  13. ^ "About Flagship Cruises & Events". flagshipsd.com. 2015-03-06. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  14. ^ Murphy, William S. (May 15, 1972). "Old San Diego Ferry to Be Hospital Ship". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
  15. ^ Harrison, Cathleen (Dec 1991). "Perioperative Nursing on the Amazon River: an experience that made a difference". AORN Journal. 54 (6): 1245–1250. doi:10.1016/S0001-2092(07)66873-2. ISSN 0001-2092. PMID 1768071.
  16. ^ Dolan, William V. (Jan 1984). "Elective Surgery in a Rural Primary Medical Care Program in the Central Amazon Valley". JAMA. 251 (4): 498–501. doi:10.1001/jama.1984.03340280048027. PMID 6690817.
  17. ^ "Parts of Aged Carrier Given to Hospital Ship". Los Angeles Times. October 19, 1972. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
  18. ^ "Ferryboat to Become Amazon Hospital". The Milwaukee Journal. May 14, 1974. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  19. ^ Ostrom, Carol M. (June 7, 1986). "Performing 'Miracles' in the Amazon". Seattle Times. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
  20. ^ Cohen, Beth (Dec 8, 2003). "Local physician travels to Bolivia". The Reporter News. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
  21. ^ James, Rebecca (August 3, 2008). "A Surgeon's Mission – Orthopesdist Assists Bolivian Children". The Post-Standard. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
  22. ^ "Esperança Foundation: Jinotega, Nicaragua". Northern California Residency Programs-Global Health Blog. 2013-06-12.
  23. ^ Marshall, Cecelia (July 29, 2012). "Twin-brother doctors aid needy in Nicaragua". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
  24. ^ Tom Egan (April 2013). "Esperança Celebrates Stryker Sustainability Solutions as Largest Donor of Unused Medical Supplies". www.stryker.com. Stryker. Archived from the original on 3 August 2015. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
  25. ^ Sherwoord, Robbie (Aug 1, 1999). "Putting Teeth in Vouchers Esperanca Helps Dental Referrals for Needy". Arizona Republic. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
  26. ^ Fimea, Mike (April 3, 2003). "Future of care in doubt for uninsured children". Arizona Republic. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
  27. ^ Shoyeb, Jacqueline (Jan 21, 2005). "Teaching Dental Hygiene to First Graders". Arizona Republic. Retrieved 30 July 2015.[dead link‍]
  28. ^ "Grant Recipients". Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  29. ^ "HIPMC: Community Initiatives and Resources". Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  30. ^ Araiza, Christina; Valenzuela, Maria; Gance-Cleveland, Bonnie (19 Apr 2012). "Salud con Sabor Latino: a culturally sensitive obesity prevention curriculum in an underserved Latino community". International Journal of Health Promotion and Education. 50 (2): 51–60. doi:10.1080/14635240.2012.661963. S2CID 72401085.
  31. ^ Stevens, Carol (2011). Salud con Sabor para los Niños: A Feasibility Study (Ph.D.). Arizona State University.
  32. ^ "Completed Project List". Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  33. ^ Esperanca: A Program to Improve Health and Nutrition in the Central Amazon (PDF) (Report). Office of Nutrition: United States Agency for International Development. 1980.
  34. ^ "Izumi Awards Esperança Grant to Reduce Vectoral Transmission of Chagas in the Tarijean Chaco, Bolivia". Retrieved 27 July 2015.
  35. ^ "Charity Navigator - Esperança page". Charity Navigator. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
  36. ^ Esperanca: Human Resource Development for Health (PDF) (Report). USAID. 1997.
  37. ^ A Wealth of Opportunity: Partnering with CORE and Group Members (PDF) (Report). Child Survival Collaborations and Resources Group. 2002. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-09-23. Retrieved 2015-08-12.
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