Day 19

One hour of training to become a health promoter in Guatemala

Health care for all down to the last village

Health Promoter: The First Point of Contact for Rural Families

Whether it's dealing with diabetes in her father-in-law, supporting a pregnant friend, recognizing malnutrition in children in the neighborhood, or other health-related issues, volunteer health promoter Jaquelyn from Los Cerros is always ready to help her community with advice and action. Along with other volunteers from her village, she has gained basic knowledge of health, hygiene, and nutrition over the course of a year. This provides immense support to the villagers, as they can receive initial medical advice right in their community without having to travel to the nearest city, which is financially difficult for many. Often, personal experiences, such as the lack of medical care in her own village, motivate people like Jaquelyn to pursue this training and volunteer work. They are the first point of contact and actively contribute to improving the health situation in their villages.

Doc Esser präsentiert dir sein Lieblingsprojekt

need

Access to basic health care for needy families in rural Guatemala

activity

Health promoters are trained on health, nutrition and hygiene issues and support people in their communities

Measurable performance

The number of trained health promoters

Result

By detecting diseases such as malnutrition early, they can be treated in a timely manner and their negative consequences reduced

Systemically relevant impact

Improved basic health care for indigenous people, especially women and children, in remote villages in Guatemala

background

Guatemala is rich in cultural heritage, yet this wealth is not reflected in the living conditions of its population. The 30-year civil war, which ended in 1996, severely hindered the country's development. Many Guatemalans, particularly indigenous people in rural areas, live on less than $2 a day (UN WFP, 2022). Although many improvements have been made since the war's end, the consequences of that period are still felt today—especially in healthcare. There are few doctors or medical resources in rural areas, and the journey to a doctor in the nearest city is often difficult and long, leading people to forgo visits for "minor" health issues. These "minor" issues, such as rashes or infections, can significantly affect daily life and develop into serious conditions if left untreated. Training volunteer health promoters helps close the gap in rural healthcare and improve the situation for the people. Health promoters can provide first aid for acute problems like fever, stomach aches, or minor injuries and refer patients to a hospital in emergencies. They also support pregnant women, newborns, and people with chronic conditions like diabetes. Additionally, they assist local health stations with vaccination campaigns, help during natural disasters, and provide information on diseases like dengue or COVID-19. A crucial part of their work is identifying malnutrition, which affects 43.5% of children in Guatemala (UNICEF et al., 2023). If malnutrition in children is not identified in time, it can lead to irreversible cognitive impairments (Lake, W.A., 2013).

The good deed

Your kind donation contributes to the training of a volunteer health promoter. For one year, women and men voluntarily dedicate four hours per week to learning essential knowledge in health, nutrition, and hygiene. Key topics covered include recognizing symptoms of diseases like dengue or malaria, lowering fever, administering medication, identifying malnourished children, and supporting pregnant women. They apply these learned skills independently in their villages. Additionally, they assist doctors and nurses during health days or vaccination campaigns, expanding their knowledge under their guidance. Your support helps provide rural populations, especially indigenous families, with much-needed primary healthcare. As the first point of contact for health concerns, health promoters play a crucial role in the daily lives of many people. This initiative will help improve healthcare access for countless individuals in the long run!

About Guatemala

Guatemala City

Capital city

17,602,431

population

as of 2023

5,797.5

Gross domestic product per capita per year in USD

as of 2023

0.629

Human Development Index (Human Development Index)

as of 2023/2024

The milpa cultivation method developed by the Maya is still used in Guatemala today. Corn, beans and pumpkins are grown together because they protect each other and provide nutrients.

About the organization and further information