Physical and Speech Therapy, Medical Care and Nutrition for Vulnerable Children in Guatemala
The Mayan Health Initiative seeks to improve the quality of life of vulnerable Guatemalan children, especially those with special needs, by providing the services and medical care they need to thrive
Where we work
We serve three municipalities in the department of San Marcos, in Guatemala’s western highlands
This is one of the poorest areas of Guatemala with many families living on just a few dollars a day per person
The population is largely indigenous, with a high percentage speaking Mam (a Mayan language) in the home
There is a significant lack of access to affordable medical care for most families
Children with special needs are especially underserved, with almost no services or resources available to them
Our three programs
We run centers for children who need physical and/or speech therapy
Our therapy centers are located in three rural towns of San Marcos
Many of the children who receive therapy have cerebral palsy or other kinds of physical or neurological disabilities
Over 400 children receive weekly physical and/or speech therapy sessions
All the therapists are professionally trained local Guatemalans
Transportation is provided free of charge for children from outlying areas
The centers are highly valued and supported by their local communities
We provide logistical and financial support for urgent medical needs
Approximately 20% of the children who come to our centers for therapy also have special medical needs
We connect them to appropriate services and resources and ensure that receive the care they require
Children are regularly identified as needing
surgeries, especially orthopedic and cardiac procedures
prosthetic limbs
hearing and vision testing, hearing aids and glasses
neurological or other specialist medical assessments and testing
dental surgery under anesthesia
medications for neurological and muscular issues
wheelchairs and walkers
We treat children at risk for acute malnutrition
Guatemala has the 4th highest rate of severe malnutrition in the world
We partner with EDESIA, a US NGO that manufactures ready-to-use-therapeutic food (RTUF)
Our nutrition team treats approximately 5,000 babies and children every year with EDESIA’s donated products
Approximately 90% of these children recover and thrive