Clinic: Salud y Paz currently operates two health and dental clinics that primarily serve the Mayan population in the Quiche Department. 71% of the rural Mayan population lives in EXTREME poverty, with an income of less than US$1.00/day, or approximately $360/year. Since August 2001 the clinics have been open full time. They have now documented well over 100,000 patient visits and estimate they have provided millions of dollars in medical/dental services.
Preschool: On February 2nd, 2009, the Susanna Wesley Preschool opened its doors to 24 five- and six-year-old Camanchaj children. The primary goals of this program are to increase children’s chances for success in the public school system with high quality, culturally sensitive preschool curriculum and to promote healthy development by providing nutritious meals (daily breakfast, snack, and lunch), teaching healthy habits (such as hand washing and teeth brushing), and offering medical and dental care. The children attend classes Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m, and each child receives a backpack, school hoodie, and all necessary school materials. They have two local teachers who speak K’iche and Spanish and a volunteer school director with graduate training in education.
A Health Promoter Program: “Las Amigas” is a group of local women who meet about once a month in the clinic at Camanchaj. Their meetings cover a wide array, but ultimately work towards education and promotion of health and hygiene in their own communities. A course consisting of 3 training sessions is held each 18 months, with 6 months in between each course. This allows the attendees to practice what they have learned for 6 months before the next training. The Amigas are equipped with the knowledge and tools to then teach their families, neighbors, and communities at large.
Host Program: In addition to their regular weekly clinic hours (two days in each clinic), they host medical, surgical, and construction teams from the U.S. throughout the year.
International Hands in Service’s commitment to diversity means the Board, management, full time employees, contract employees, and volunteers recognize that all persons are to be treated with dignity, fairness and respect regardless of ethnicity, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion, socio-economic status, and family status. IHS is committed to creating an environment where differences are valued and all personnel are a productive part of a high-performing team delivering high quality services to their clients. Any behavior or statement contrary to this policy is a violation of IHS’s commitment to diversity and may be a form of harassment. Such harassment may include, but is not limited to, derogatory comments, jokes, slurs or abusive language. All IHS personnel are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that values differences and is not offensive to other employees and clients.
Recent Comments