ALIANZA is a non-profit, rural community health project in Comitancillo, San Marcos, Guatemala founded in 2005.
What we do
Promote health education and disease prevention measures.
Promote community involvement and collaboration between local agencies involved in public health and education.
Prenatal Program, Grandmother's Group, low cost medication dispensary run by a local nurse.
Twenty annual scholarships of $300 each for students in both high school and post-secondary programs.
Women's Health Group
A program initiated by Alianza staff members Sofia and Magnolia. 10 women meet twice a month for presentations and discussion on topics such as nutrition, gender equity, dental hygiene, human rights law, and family planning. They also receive food supplements (corn, oil, beans, eggs, milk powder) and hot drinks/snacks at the meetings. Many of their children have accessed the scholarship program and use our free internet access to complete their assignments. These women also have priority in programs like the eco-stove project.
Grandmother's Group
Another program initiated by Alianza staff in response to the need for support of elder women, many of them widowed, who now benefit from a place to come and meet twice a month for lunch, socializing, visits with the Alianza nurse at the clinic/dispensary, low cost medications and food supplements (such as corn and beans) to help meet their nutritional requirements. Several of them have also participated in the eco-stoves project where Guatemalan-designed eco stoves installed by a local builder replace wood-fire cookstoves on the floor, eliminating indoor smoke and the respiratory ailments associated with it.
Dispensing of Medications
Medications are dispensed to members of the community after consultation with our nurse, either free or at cost (sliding scale). The goal is to improve the health of the participants by providing affordable medications.The need still far exceeds the supply and we are always looking for support to expand this program.
Prenatal/Postnatal Program
The program involves biweekly prenatal education classes covering topics such as warning signs of complications of pregnancy and delivery; importance of nutrition and weight gain; and care of the newborn. Women are weighed each month, and receive prenatal vitamins and food supplements (corn, beans, oil, eggs, milk powder). If emergency transport or medical attention is needed, emergency funds are available. Newborns receive a set of clothing and a blanket.
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Scholarships
Since 2011 we have assisted over 50 students with the cost of high school or post-secondary training. There are three locally born and raised, Mam-speaking professional women (one nurse, one lawyer and one social worker) working in Comitancillo who would not have attained their academic goals without our economic support. It is our hope that this program will continue to produce local graduates who will go on to help their community through health services, teaching, new businesses and so on. Please consider "adopting" a student for $300/year.Future Plans
Sustain/Build Current Projects
- Expand medication dispensary.
- Construction of a second building to expand the clinic/meeting space
- Hire a social worker/psychologist and a teacher to mentor students
- Workshops for health providers (nurses and midwives) to build capacity within both groups and decrease infant mortality/morbidity.
- Fund a medical scholarship for a student who wishes to become a physician and work locally.
New projects (subject to funding)
- Provision of contraception
- Scholarships for nurses.
- Expanding the eco-stoves project.
- Expanding the computer classroom
