Our Work in Guatemala

Guatemala has the third highest infant and child mortality rates in the Western Hemisphere. Since 2003, we have been working with our local partner organization, Curamericas-Guatemala, to reduce these rates, along with maternal deaths, in rural, Mayan communities in the country's northwest region.

Dr. Mario Valdez outside his office in Guatemala with our founder, Dr. Henry Perry.

Within our project area, 68% of children under the age of 3 are malnourished and 1 in 250 pregnancies result in death. (In the US the rate is 1 in 12,500).

Curamericas Global's National Program Director, Dr. Mario Valdez, is the only medical doctor for the more than 66,000 people living this area.

Our nurses and community health workers provide basic care, health education and outreach, vaccinations, vitamins, and other vital services to mothers and families, mostly through home visits.

Through Dr. Mario and his staff's dedication, today almost 90% of the children have received lifesaving vaccinations.

Teresita’s Story
Photos from the Guatemala Ministry of Health website show a Curamericas-Guatemala staff member caring for a baby girl, Teresita. See the impact these health services have made on Teresita’s life, and visualize the hope that is instilled in thousands of children similar to Teresita.

The Calhuitz Maternity Center
With the nearest hospital over five hours away, our project area was in dire need of a safe birthing center. Curamericas Global Volunteers teamed up with the local community, and the Calhuitz Maternity Center is now up and running... more

Martina Andres' Story
Our Guatemalan nurses were making regular home health visits when they found a two-month old baby weighing only four pounds. Her mother, Maria, was desperate for help... more

	Martina, desperate for help, at two months old with her mother		At seven months, Martina has gained weight thanks to the assistance her mother received from Curamericas Guatemala

Patti and Alma, two of our nurses in Guatemala, were out in the community making regular home health visits. Upon arrival at the Andres' home, they learned that a baby girl, Martina, had been born two months earlier. The infant currently weighed only four pounds and was obviously dying of malnutrition. The mother, Maria, was desperate for help. Quickly, Alma and Patti began teaching Maria how to properly feed her child. Maria was eager to learn and dedicated to her baby. Like all of us, she wanted her child to live and was willing to do whatever it took to save her. Martina (pictured above) not only lived but is thriving. The lessons learned by this family will be applied to their other children and others in their community.

For more information on volunteering with our Guatemalan project, please contact Andrew Herrera at andrew@curamericas.org.