Pro Mujer CEO, Rosario Perez, has been named a 2014 Schwab Foundation Social Entrepreneur for Pro Mujer's groundbreaking work in health care delivery to poor women in Latin America

NEW YORK, March 24, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Pro Mujer is proud to announce that CEO Rosario Perez was selected by the Schwab Foundation as a 2014 Social Entrepreneur.  The announcement was made today, March 24, 2014.  Ms. Perez was honored in recognition of Pro Mujer's leadership in creating and implementing innovative health care solutions for poor women in Latin America. A non-profit social enterprise, Pro Mujer began in 1990 and operates in five Latin American countries.  Over its history Pro Mujer has provided financial services, business and empowerment training and health care to over 1.6 million women.

Pro Mujer shares a deep connection with its clients.  They have over 2,000 employees, most of whom work and live in the communities served, and over 10% of whom were aided by Pro Mujer services before becoming employees.  By living and working in these communities, Pro Mujer observed first hand that the old models of health care delivery had failed:  68% of deaths in Latin American are caused by chronic, preventable disease, yet poor women do not access health care, nor do they value preventative care.

In 2011 Pro Mujer began piloting a new, groundbreaking health care system.

Designed to be client driven, market based and financially sustainable, Pro Mujer offers health care at community centers that women already visit for loan disbursements. As a result, access to health care is convenient and takes place in a safe, supportive environment where women encourage each other to stay healthy.  Additionally, not all women want the same coverage, so Pro Mujer offers a range of health care options including preventative screenings, a package of pre-paid services and a pay-per-service option.  Baseline preventative healthcare is free for all clients, and other services are offered at affordable, below market rates.  More comprehensive products can be paid for in installments with Pro Mujer financing, and the programs are designed to be financially self-sustaining.  In 2013 Pro Mujer conducted over 1 million health care screenings, consultations and procedures.  The roll out of the innovative pre-paid packages and other new services has been swift and well received; 13,000 packages have already been sold and client satisfaction is high.

Pro Mujer, and the Schwab Foundation, believe this model offers important insights on how to successfully transform health care delivery at the base of the economic pyramid.

As one of the 2014 Schwab Foundation Social Entrepreneurs, Ms. Rosario joins an existing community of over 250 social entrepreneurs from 60 countries, all selected for their innovative solutions to global issues in health, education, employment and the environment.  Says David Aikman, Managing Director and Head of the New Champions Communities-World Economic Forum:  "Social entrepreneurs are an integral and increasingly sought after community of the World Economic Forum.  We are seeing greater appetite among business, government and civil society leaders to learn from the innovative models of social entrepreneurs and collaborate with them in novel ways. We welcome the 2014 Social Entrepreneur of the Year Awardees who epitomize the best this sector has to offer."

This year the winners will be honored at the World Economic Forum in Tianjin, China.  Says Ms. Perez, "I am honored by this award, and proud of the work Pro Mujer is doing in quality health care delivery for poor women.  The opportunity to join the prestigious group of Schwab Social Entrepreneurs and create on-going dialogue is sure to spark new opportunities for innovative partnerships and continued advancements in women's development."

For more information on Pro Mujer and our holistic approach to women's development, please contact Lilian Riveros at [email protected] or 646-626-7000 ext. 122.  

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SOURCE Pro Mujer