Health
Salud y Paz began in 2001 with one dentist working out of a small clinic in Camanchaj.
Today, Salud y Paz operates clinics from the far northern reaches of El Quiche to the Western Highlands of Quetzaltenango. Each clinic is staffed by Guatemalan clinicians and has both a pharmacy and laboratory. Our consistent presence enables us to provide continuity of care to our many patients with chronic illness.
Our clinics offer primary medical and dental care as well as lab work and prescribed medication, for a very small fee. Patient donations toward their own care not only promotes autonomy, but encourages them to follow medical advice, use prescribed medications, and consider lifestyle changes that may positively affect their health. The patient contribution is waived if the patient cannot afford it.
Partnering with international service teams allows Salud y Paz to operate for maximum impact. Our model for service delivery operates like a bicycle wheel–the spokes are our medical, dental, optical and surgical service teams reaching far out into the Mayan mountain communities, connecting patients into the hub–our network of locally-staffed clinics–providing opportunity for people in rural villages to receive care they wouldn’t otherwise be able to access or afford.
Together, we reach more than 6,000 patients per year.
Our patients come from miles around and even other states. They begin to line up early in the morning and some who travel longer distances spend the night at the campus so as not to travel in the dark before or after an appointment. The most common illnesses treated at our clinics are: diabetes, hypertension, bacterial vaginosis, respiratory infections, peptic acid disorders including those caused by H. pylori, and hernias. Other common illnesses treated include arthritis, back pain, gastritis, parasites, and allergies.
Every year, hundreds of patients who need specialty services we cannot directly provide in our clinics receive referrals support and assistance through our social work program to our network of trusted partners, including the public health service and other local healthcare providers, with whom we collaborate to promote comprehensive and continuous care.
Our collaboration with the Guatemala public health service extends to our education program – our preschoolers benefit from specialist nutrition screening and education and our school families receive vaccine information and access as a result of this partnership.