Mamasanté Calling!

What kinds of products does a Mamasanté sell?

In rural areas, some of the most valuable health-protection products simply can't be found. The inventory a Mamasanté brings to her neighborhood clients is a smart mix of items that directly address the most common health problems in rural villages. A Mamasanté is required to carry some inventory, but she can also choose to carry other products that her clients request. Each product is priced within the range of what a poor family in a rural village could afford (from less than $1 to $10). Freedom from Hunger trains every Mamasanté to give advice on the proper use of her health-related inventory.

One popular item is reading glasses. With the help of the Scojo Foundation, Freedom from Hunger is training Mamasantés to properly fit and sell reading glasses to customers whose ability to earn money has been impaired by the blurry vision that comes naturally with age. The glasses quickly empower older workers to return to the work of their youth and to increase their incomes.

Here is a list of the products offered by a village Mamasanté.

Health

  • Insecticide-treated mosquito nets*
  • Net re-treatment tablets*
  • Point-of-use water treatment methods*
  • Oral Rehydration Solution with zinc*
  • Contraceptives (condoms)*
  • Iodized salt*
  • Vitamins and minerals
  • Analgesics for normal pain relief and fever reduction
  • Wound care: bandages, band-aids, mercurochrome
  • Eye drops for "itchy" eyes

Personal Care

  • Feminine hygiene
  • Toothpaste/toothbrush
  • Lice-fighting and dandruff shampoo
  • Moisturizing crème
  • Talcum powder
  • Hand soap

Special services and advice

  • ITN re-treatment*
  • Reading glasses*
  • Measure blood pressure
  • Referrals to health clinics/hospitals*
  • Subscriptions to the National Health Insurance Plan

* Mandatory