Active Projects – Guatemala

Rural Guatemala Hope Project: Improving maternal and newborn health in remote Mayan communities through the training of traditional midwives and facilitation of access to basic health education and services.

For information about our microfinance program in Guatemala, click here.

Partner Fundacion de Asistencia para la Pequena Empresa (FAPE)

Location San Juan Sacatepequez and San Martin Jilotepeque, Guatemala

Over 80% of all births in San Juan Sacatepequez and San Martin Jilotepeque take place in the home and are attended by a traditional midwife.
An average of 2 women die from pregnancy related causes every day in Guatemala.
Health problems are exacerbated by the distance to services and the lack of health education.
An estimated 68% of children experience chronic malnutrition.
74% of the population of the two project municipalities lives in poverty.

To improve health knowledge and practices in the project areas
To improve the ability of traditional midwives to provide care as well as strengthening their partnerships with the local Ministry of Health
To improve the availability and accessibility of community healthcare services for rural women and their families

Health promotion and education sessions will be provided to loan recipients during their group meetings covering a range of important health topics (sexual and reproductive health, child nutrition, family planning, alcoholism and domestic abuse).
Training of new midwives and follow up training and linkage of existing midwives to the official registration program of the Guatemalan Ministry of Health.
Purchase health equipment and negotiate agreements with local health providers to improve access to health services.

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This project is being undertaken with the financial support of the Government of Canada provided through the Canadian International Development Agency.