Guatemala is one of the poorest countries in the Western hemisphere. Decades of violence, corruption, and racism have stranded much of the population in poverty with uncertain prospects for the future. Although nearly 75% of the population in Guatemala is Mayan, and speaks one of over 20 different indigenous languages, there are no health care [...]
Tag Archives: Pediatrics
Profile: Wuqu' Kawoq
Posted by Laura on May 26, 2010
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Guatemala is one of the poorest countries in the Western hemisphere. Decades of violence, corruption, and racism have stranded much of the population in poverty with uncertain prospects for the future. Although nearly 75% of the population in Guatemala is Mayan, and speaks one of over 20 different indigenous languages, there are no health care [...]
Profile: VOSH
Posted by Laura on May 18, 2010
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VOSH is a non-governmental, non-sectarian, non-profit organization made up of optometrists, ophthalmologists, opticians, and other persons who have donated their time, talent, and money to help those in need to by building self-supporting eye clinics in the countries they serve. The VOSH mission is to empower local eye care specialists in developing countries by building [...]
Profile: Rotaplast International
Posted by Laura on April 21, 2010
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Rotaplast is a non-profit humanitarian organization that provides free multidisciplinary care for cleft lip and palate and other conditions requiring reconstructive surgery. They promote self-sufficiency in the countries where they work by training local physicians, counseling families, and collaborating with health officials on the development of sustainable cleft lip and palate programs. What is a [...]
Profile: Faith in Practice
Posted by Laura on April 15, 2010
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The mission of Faith In Practice (FIP) is to improve the physical, spiritual, and economic conditions of the poor in Guatemala through short-term surgical, medical and dental mission trips and health-related educational programs. Their mission is based on an ecumenical understanding that as people of God they are called to demonstrate the love and compassion [...]
Announcement: Shalom Foundation Upcoming Trips
Posted by Laura on April 5, 2010
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The following trips are being sponsored by and/or are associated with The Shalom Foundation. To find out more information, visit their website. All groups will work in Guatemala City. Clean Water Trip – Living Waters for the World Franklin Breakfast Rotary & Kingsport First Presbyterian Church April 28 – May 3, 2010 Team [...]
Profile: Vanderbilt University Center for Latin American Studies
Posted by Laura on April 3, 2010
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In 2006, The Vanderbilt Center for Latin American Studies (CLAS) was designated a National Resource Center by the U.S. Department of Education. While maintaining one of the strongest concentrations of Brazilianists of any university in the United States, the Center’s renowned faculty also has particular strengths in Mesoamerican anthropology and archaeology, the study of democracy [...]
Profile: Safe Homes for Children
Posted by Laura on March 16, 2010
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Safe Homes for Children is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation set up to support Casa de Sion, an orphanage in Los Robles near Panajachel. On 17 acres of farmland, they have a 2500 sq. ft. building that is used for their orphanage. They take street children as well as children whose parents cannot afford to feed or [...]
Profile: The Shalom Foundation / Winter 2010 Surgery Trip
Posted by Laura on December 1, 2009
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A Shalom Foundation General Surgery Team from Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital will travel to Guatemala City February 6-13, 2010 to provide surgical care to children through the Pediatric Foundation Hospital. We seek to provide surgical procedures for poor children who would not otherwise receive treatment. Currently Shalom Foundation works through a network of doctors and advisors in Guatemala to identify pediatric candidates for [...]
Profile: The Shalom Foundation
Posted by Laura on December 1, 2009
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The Shalom Foundation is dedicated to providing humanitarian assistance and financial support to underprivileged children and their families with a focus on Christian values and service. The Shalom Foundation is supported through contributions from private citizens, businesses, churches and foundations. The Medical Program: The Medical Program is one of The Shalom Foundation’s most important [...]
Profile: Health for Humanity
Posted by Laura on October 15, 2009
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Health for Humanity is a Canadian-based volunteer organization that provides quality medical care, equipment and supplies to the poor of Guatemala and other developing countries. Health for Humanity currently sends multidisciplinary teams of volunteer health care professionals to Guatemala and the Philippines. In addition to the surgical program, Health for Humanity works with local NGOs [...]
Profile: Hospitalito Atitlán
Posted by Laura on September 14, 2009
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Hospitalito Atitlán (HA) is a small, private, non-profit hospital serving a population of 43,000 Tz’utujil Maya on the southern shore of beautiful Lake Atitlán. Local physicians, nursing, and administrative staff work closely in collaboration with volunteer medical personnel from around the world to provide a comprehensive scope of care, including the only 24/7 emergency and [...]
Profile: Hospital de la Familia
Posted by Laura on September 1, 2009
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What started over 30 years ago as a small dispensing pharmacy in Nuevo Progreso is today a year-round medical facility offering general medical, minor surgery, pediatric, obstetrical and dental services. The hospital consists of wards that can accommodate 72 patients. During the past several years, the hospital has maintained a staff of over 60 full-time [...]
Profile: International Eye Institute, Inc.
Posted by Laura on September 1, 2009
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The International Eye Institute, Inc. (IEI) is a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) tax exempt corporation (final approval pending from the Internal Revenue Service). Their purpose is to provide adult and pediatric eye care and surgery to people of impoverished regions around the globe. The team typically visits Nuevo Progreso, in the San Marcos department of Guatemala, [...]
Profile: Medical Missions for Children
Posted by Laura on September 1, 2009
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Medical Missions for Children (“MMFC”) is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization providing free quality surgical, medical and dental care to poor and under-privileged children in various countries throughout the world. MMFC also facilitates the transfer of knowledge and recent innovations to the local medical communities. Since 2000, MMFC has traveled annually to Antigua, Guatemala, [...]
Profile: Children of the Americas
Posted by Laura on August 25, 2009
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Each January, Children of the Americas, Inc. sends a volunteer medical/surgical team to work in a different area of Guatemala. The duration of the trip is one week, and generally takes place in the second half of January. Click here to view a trip report from their 2010 visit to Retalhuleu. Children of the Americas, [...]
Profile: ASSADE
Posted by Laura on August 25, 2009
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The mission of Assade is to provide health services to residents of San Andres Itzapa, and to educate people inside and outside of the clinics in order to prevent diseases and promote health. Their goal is to reach and serve at least 75% of the poorest and most susceptible population, within time frame of three years. [...]
Profile: Matthew W. Wilson, MD
Posted by Laura on August 21, 2009
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Dr. Wilson’s Specialty is ophthalmology, particularly pediatric eye cancer. He has a relationship with Unidad Hospital in Guatemala City (website in Spanish), and regularly travels there to perform pediatric eye surgery. More information about Dr. Wilson can be found by visiting his profile, provided by St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.
Profile: Healing the Children
Posted by Laura on August 19, 2009
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Healing the Children is a national, non-profit volunteer organization dedicated to providing medical care to needy children in our own community and around the world. Foreign children are treated by volunteer medical teams in their homeland and other children are flown to the United States for donated specialized care. For general information about this group, please [...]
Profile: Glens Falls Medical Mission Foundation
Posted by Laura on August 19, 2009
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The mission of Glens Falls Medical is to develop a sustained effort to work with the people of Nueva Santa Rosa, in southern Guatemala. They provide the local residents with needed health benefits, including both the medical care itself and the tools to empower them to improve their own health care. The dates for the [...]