La gente se siente rescatada al recibir la donación de maíz y frijol

Saludos desde San Marcos,

Les envío el reporte  de MHI del tercer trimestre del año. Guatemala aún se encuentra en modo de pandemia con casos de COVID19 en aumento.  Sin embargo, en la semana pasada algunas de las restricciones para viajar impuestas desde Febrero se empezaron a  levantar.   El transporte público entre las ciudades ya está disponible.  Hay espaciamiento entre los asientos; y no hay obstrucciones de tránsito  entre los departamentos.

Por el toque de queda y el cierre comercial, los precios de la canasta básica aumentaron agudamente causando más hambre en las áreas rurales.  Como se recordarán, en abril MHI autorizó un dinero para comprar alimentos y ayudar a 200 familias.  En julio,  la directiva de MHI aprobó más dinero para ayudar a otras 200 familias.  Habrán visto en Facebook y en el website que el equipo de nutrición ha distribuido arduamente maíz seco, frijoles, PlumpyNut/PlumpySup e Incaparina, a familias de San Miguel y otras municipalidades cercanas.  Muchos de los recipientes son ancianos  o madres solteras que viven  en comunidades lejanas sin acceso a mercados por la falta de transporte.   También continuamos ayudando a las familias que son parte del programa de rehabilitación.  Si las cosas no mejoran significativamente dentro de poco, vamos a tener que hacer una tercera distribución de alimentos, ya que es una ayuda muy necesaria en estos tiempos de coronavirus.

El programa de rehabilitación ha estado suspendido desde  Marzo.  La suspensión de la terapia física  durante la pandemia es un problema mundial.   Afortunadamente, la mayoría de nuestra familias están entrenadas para hacer ejercicios en casa, lo cual esperamos reduzca el efecto de la falta de  terapia física  en los niños con discapacidades.  Nuestras terapistas están en contacto con los pacientes y estamos trabajando en un plan para continuar  el programa tan pronto como sea posible. El equipo usará protocolos desarrollados por el Ministerio de Salud Pública para reducir el riesgo de exposición de COVID19 en los pacientes y terapistas.

A pesar de las restricciones impuestas por la pandemia, yo he podido llevar a varios niños de San Marcos a la capital para sus seguimientos después de cirugías realizadas antes de la pandemia.   Ahora, tenemos varios niños programados para seguimiento médico en la capital.  Dos niños con labio leporino y paladar hendido están recibiendo soporte nutricional necesario antes de la cirugía, la cual será financiada por MHI.   Esta vez la cirugía se realizará por un equipo de médicos guatemaltecos, puesto que no sabemos cuándo regresaran las misiones médicas de Estados Unidos. Otra niña con enfermedad congénita del corazón también necesita cirugía.  Antes de la cirugía tenemos que restaurarle los dientes para evitar infección.  Las cirugías para niños con problemas ortopédicos complejos están suspendidas hasta que la pandemia se calme y permita venir a grupos de especialistas.   Como ven, siguiendo nuestra misión, continuamos proveyendo cuidado médico a los niños más pobres de Guatemala, y produciendo cambios significativos en sus vidas.

Yo les agradezco a cada uno de ustedes todo el apoyo que nos han brindado.  Yo se lo difícil que han sido las cosas en Estados Unidos.   Quiero que sepan que la gente está muy agradecida con la ayuda que reciben. El equipo de San Miguel me cuenta que la gente llora de la emoción porque se siente rescatada  con al donación de comida.  Así de simple como parece,  en esta parte del mundo maíz seco significa tortillas, y eso significa que hay oportunidad de sobrevivir!

Cuídense mucho,  

Bill Ahrens

A Note of Gratitude from the Team in Guatemala

This is a letter  from Maudilia Lopez a Mam-speaker religious sister, who has worked in San Miguel Ixtahuacán for 25 years. She is trained in anthropology and has worked extensively in  issues of human and women rights.  She joined MHI/B’Itol  as the administrator about 8 month ago. We wanted to share with all of you as her message of gratitude reflects the sentiment of the entire team.

“It is true that we cannot feed all the people of San Miguel, Ixtahuacan, but the donation  had brought smiles to many families.  It is a beautiful experience that the MHI/B’Itol team has had delivering foodstuffs.  Getting to know better the conditions in which many people live, really poor conditions that are hard to believe, even for  us who are from here.  We are grateful to the people from the United States who helped us. If you could conquer the hearts of more people we will be in charge of delivering more food. If that is not possible then we are thankful to all the goodhearted people from the United States for the support we had received” .  – Maudilia

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Esta es una carta de Maudilia López, una hermana religiosa, nativa de San Marcos que habla también Mam. Ella es antropóloga y ha trabajado en San Miguel en aspectos de derechos humanos y de la mujer.  Ella se unió al equipo de MHI/ B’Itol hace 8 meses como administradora.  Queremos compartirles su mensaje de agradecimiento que refleja el sentimiento del resto del equipo.

“No podemos alimentar a toda la gente de San Miguel, Ixtahuacán pero sí se ha hacho sonreír a varias familias. Realmente es una experiencia bonita que  el equipo de  MHI/B’Itol ha tenido en la entrega de víveres.  El conocer las condiciones en que vive mucha gente, condiciones precarias que son difíciles de creer incluso para los que vivimos aquí. Gracias a la gente de los Estados Unidos y buen corazón que han querido compartir con la gente de San Miguel. A mi manera de pensar, si hay otras personas que quieran compartir y si ustedes tienen ese don de conquistar los corazones a más gente pues en buena hora, y nosotros nos encargamos de hacer la entrega. En caso que ya no hay más gente para compartir, pues que más podemos hacer que estar agradecidos con el aporte que se ha recibido y compartido con las familias.” – Maudilia

Reporte de Actividades durante la Pandemia de COVID-19. San Marcos, Guatemala

Queridos amigos,  

Les escribo para darles un informe desde San Marcos, Guatemala acerca de nuestras actividades en medio de la pandemia de coronavirus.  Guatemala ha estado en varias etapas de toque de queda y confinamiento en casa.   Los casos de COVID-19 continuan en aumento en todos los departamentos, los números reales no se conocen porque la disponibilidad del test es limitada.  Los hospitales nacionales de la capital no están aceptando más pacientes ya que las unidades de cuidado crítico están llenas.  Por el momento el único tratamiento pareciera ser cuarentena.   Las ciudades del interior de la república están razonablemente abastecidas de comida, sin embargo las áreas rurales que comprenden el 90% de la población están en serios problemas.  La mayoría de las aldeas se han auto-aislado, y los pueblos alejados de las municipalidades  están sufriendo de  falta de acceso a víveres esenciales.   La falta de trasporte a los mercados es un gran problema, como lo es la falta de transporte público, eso ha resultado en un desempleo masivo.  

En cuanto a nuestros programas,  el programa de rehabilitación se encuentra suspendido.  Las jornadas médicas también  se han suspendido, lo cual es desafortunado ya que muchos de nuestros pacientes en rehabilitación tienen problemas quirúrgicos que necesitan atención inmediata.  

Como están enterados,  antes de que empezara la cuarentena recibimos  una donación generosa, de alimentos terapéuticos lista para consumir (ATLC)  por parte de un donador anónimo y de Edesia.  Los ATLC  se usan para tratar la desnutrición aguda, sin embargo  la pandemia nos ha obligado a utilizar el producto para salvar a las familias del efecto secundario más grave del coronavirus:  EL HAMBRE.  La directiva de MHI  aprobó $10,000 para comprar víveres y aliviar temporalmente a familias de extrema pobreza en San Miguel Ixtahuacán  donde vive la mayoría  de los pacientes que atendemos.

Nuestro colaborador local  B’ITOL en conjunto con el personal de  MHI ha identificado a las familias necesitadas y comprado productos al por mayor con la intención de  reducir los precios.  En medio de la falta de trasporte y bloqueos de acceso a la población, MHI ha distribuido maíz, frijoles, papas y otros productos de la canasta básica. Nuestro objetivo es ayudar a 200 familias. 

Este proyecto va más allá de la misión de MHI, sin embargo consideramos que en tiempos difíciles como los que estamos viviendo estamos justificados a ayudar a las familias más necesitadas. Aunque la cuarentena es difícil para todos, es aún más devastadora para aquellos cuyas condiciones de vida no les da margen para algo peor, poniendo en riesgo  las vidas de niños y adultos.

Nosotros sabemos que ustedes, cuyas donaciones  hacen posible nuestras actividades, también comparten este sentimiento, y por ello les estamos profundamente agradecidos.

Con el aprecio de siempre,

Bill Ahrens

COVID-19 Pandemic Report from San Marcos, Guatemala

Dear Friends,

I am writing to give the “pandemic update” from Guatemala as it regards our activities. Here the country has gone through various stages of lock-down; there are documented cases of COVID-19 in all departments, but as testing is extremely limited, no one knows the numbers. The big public hospital in the capital is now turning away patients as the ICU is full and the only treatment available is quarantine. The cities remain reasonably well supplied with food, but the rural areas, which comprise 90% of the population, are in trouble. Most of the villages are self-isolating, and those far from the local municipality are suffering from lack of access to basic foodstuffs. Lack of transportation to local markets is a problem, and the shutdown of public transportation has resulted in massive unemployment.  
 
In relation to MHI's programs, our rehabilitation program is not running and all visiting jornadas have been postponed. This is unfortunate as most of the patients in our therapy program have time-sensitive surgical problems that need attention. As you know, we caught a break in that we received a large donation of ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF), via the generosity of an anonymous donor and Edesia, just before the lock-down. RUTF is intended to treat acute malnutrition, however the pandemic has forced us to use it to save families from starvation.  
 
The MHI board approved $10,000 to be used in San Miguel Ixtahuacan and to buy foodstuffs and relief families with extreme need. San Miguel is where our largest rehab center is located and where the majority of the families we serve are living. Our local partner  B’ITOL, in conjunction with MHI staff is identifying the neediest families and bought the product in bulk in an effort to keep down the prices.  Amidst the challenges of transportation during the pandemic, the team is currently distributing the products dried corn, beans, potatoes, for the most part. Our goal is to reach 200 families. This project is obviously beyond the scope of what has been our mission, but we feel that in these difficult times we must keep in mind those whose lives are at stake because their living conditions had no margin to get worst. As difficult as the lockdown has been for everyone, it is obviously a disaster for the poor. All of our work is made possible by your generosity.

Thank you all for your support.  Be well. Bill~

Rescuing Starving Families During COVID19 crisis

The #COVID19 crisis is gravely affecting families in the rural areas of Guatemala. It is a desperate situation, families are pleading for food. Hanging #WhiteFlags outside their homes has become a distress signal to make it known that families no longer have food.

Rejection of fruits and vegetables for fear of catching  #COVID19 is an unbearable situation for the farmers in Guatemala.  Farmers have been forced to bury their product because they did not harvest on time and the products  rotten.  Crops of broccoli, onion, lettuce, carrots, beets, cabbage, peas, tomatoes, squash and strawberries are the most affected by the #COVID19 crisis.

Due to the mobility restrictions implemented to stop the spread of #COVID19, the economic income of Guatemalan households dedicated to informal work has decreased severely.  The lack of food, work and money is desperate.

#MHI is trying to help the communities of the “Altiplano”, by bringing food to those affected in the western highlands. The situation is so critical that #MHI is distributing some of the ready-to-use therapeutic food supply to save families from starvation. ~

A Blessing for our Nutrition Program

Shortly before the #COVID19 emergency hit Guatemala #MHI received a generous donation of Ready-to-use Therapeutic Food from Edesia

#MHI is grateful for the 1620 boxes Plumpy'Sup and Nutributter. These products will be distributed to malnourished children in the Altiplano and help us to carry out our mission.

THANK YOU

In the name of our children and #MHI, we thank our donors, in particular to the anonymous donor that trusted  #MHINutrition  program with this generous donation. We also thank Edesia the Nfp organization that makes the product; and of course we thank all #MHI followers. Your unconditional support made the shipment and handling of the product from Rhode Island, USA to San Miguel Ixtahuacan possible. THANK YOU! 

Mariana's Recovery

Mariana, she was born in San Jose Ojotenam, San Marcos.  She has cerebral palsy, a condition in which there is increased muscle tone. This means her muscles are stiff and as a result, her movements are awkward.  Mariana’s severe spasticity is more noticeable in her upper extremities and muscles of speech.

When the #MHI team met her in 2013,  Mariana’s spasticity had made her spine to curve sideways.  Through #MHI support she was evaluated by a specialist in Guatemala city, had a back brace to help with the curvature of her spine and ultimately started treatment with Botulinum Neurotoxin A, a medication that relaxes her muscles  and allows her to receive physical, speech and occupational therapy at one of our therapy centers.

Mariana  is now 15, has normal intelligence and is enrolled in the local public school.  Despite her struggles to move and use her hands, she loves to go to school and is an honor student.  She always has a smile on her face.    Both her parents, Rebeca and Manuel are devoted to her.

Mariana needs visits to a Neurology specialist in Guatemala city, help with transportation and medications. Botulinum neurotoxin A is a forbiddingly expensive medication for anybody living in rural Guatemala.

Please take action. Your gift will help Mariana and other children like her to receive  medications, therapy and other services they need.

#MHI

#MHIRehabilitation

#MHIMedicalRelief

FALL 2019 updates

Hello to all who have supported the work of MHI. I write from San Marcos to let you all know what is new here.

#MHIRehabilitation

The physical/speech therapy program continues to progress, with the addition of several new families. The center in San Miguel adds patients every week San Jose more slowly. As we now have 190 families in the rehabilitation center in San Miguel, we have decided to hire an administrator, to help organize the patients who receive therapy, as well as to assist in coordinating the surgical aspect of the program. We all agree that a woman will best serve this role. Maudelia Lopez has agreed to take the job. She is from the adjacent municipality of Comitancillo, and has lived in San Miguel for 25 years. She is a native Mam speaker, a nun, with a university degree in anthropology. She has previously worked with local women in the area of human rights; she is especially interested in the spirituality of the Mam culture, and how it interfaces with a modernizing world. She is well-respected by the community, and we believe will make a strong contribution to the program.

Finally, I will share a personal observation. We have several deaf children in the program. We have had little luck with those who could benefit from hearing aids - they are expensive, and hard to maintain. Via Elizaeth Brrios, of the therapy program, we became connected with a group of American audiologists from Seattle, who have developed a program to teach Guatemalans how to assess the need for, and maintain, hearing aids. The group came to San Marcos for a jornada, and we sent several several children to be evaluated, and of those several received hearing aids. I went with them; the jornada took place at a school for the deaf in the city; it is a small place but has children of all ages, who receive speech and occupational therapy, and some didactic classes. It was the second time I spent some time there. In the evening after the jornada, I found myself wondering aout the special atmosphere one can sense in the place- an amazing positive energy. Then I looked at a short video I shot of some adolescents “signing” with each other. Of course- it is a place where the kids can go and communicate with other kids, like they could never in a regular school. It makes one realize what a gift it is to be ale to hear.

#MHIMedicalRelief

Some come for special surgical needs; we have just encountered a newborn with a severe cleft lip/palate. Thanks to Mario de Paz we have found a location for corrective surgery.  the challenge now is to be ale to feed the baby, so she grows enough for the operation. We are looking for the special nipples/bottles needed, and will provide support with infant formula.

#MHINutrition

The nutrition program continues apace; we are involved throughout the entire province, and burning through the PlumpyNut and Nutributter we last received. We remain, unfortunately, the only resource for the malnourished children in the Altiplano.

#Feto-Maternal Ultrasound

Most of you will recall that Mario de Paz, who is in charge of the nutrition program, is trained in ultrasonography. He has done some outreach with midwives in San Miguel, who care for and deliver 90% of the pregnancies in the municipality. We have decided to expand and formalize this aspect of the program, with the goal of actually training selected midwives to do the ultrasound themselves, and recognize certain complications that lead to high risk deliveries. Technology is such that they can use tablets and send images real-time via the internet, to Mario, who can read them and corroborate findings. We will use teaching on modules published in the medical literature, where midwives (in Africa) have been trained in obstetric ultrasound. This is, in the end, a very cost-effective way to improve maternal/fetal health care. There are few things sadder than a mother dying in childbirth.


MHI will also welcome Dr Karen Fernandez to the board of directors. Karen is a Guatemalan (Chapina) who went to medical school there, then did a pediatric residency at the University of Illinois at Chicago, where we met. She then trained in pediatric hematology/oncology at Ohio State. She now works in Fresno, California. Karen has done extensive work with the pediatric cancer center in Guatemala City. We welcome her input into MHI, and hope her talents can help enlist the involvement of more Guatemalans.

With that I will wish all a happy fall season. Here the rains still come every day. Travel can be painful as some of the roads are washing out or are being buried in landslides. It should stop mid November. Ciao, Bill

The easy part is Getting over the mountain

After three strikes, two blockades, and the usual whips and scorns of time, our latest shipment of PlumpyNut has arrived! The last little problem was that the trailer got stuck on a mountainous bend 7 kms from the clinic. The muchachos had to load the boxes on pickups from 8pm to 3am. Fortunately it was not raining.

Now, our team of 50 nurses, nutrition counselors, and volunteers will travel over the mountains through loose networks of villages to identify severely malnourished infants to receive intervention and then track their progress over six months.