Guatemala Archives - Page 3 of 3

Sharing a Post Has Consequences… like a new school.

A Reporter’s Simple Story Gets Big Results

Aspiring Guatemalan reporter Brian Quevedo visited the small village of El Xab (pronounced El SHAB) just to do a little piece about their school. The impoverished community had banded together to build its own elementary school. Quevedo wanted to document their struggles to educate their children.

When the story appeared on Canal 46 TV in Retalhuleu, it caught the attention of AMEDICAusa. We contacted Brian to get the full story so that we could aid the school. Within a few days AMEDICAusa volunteers were in El Xab delivering educational supplies and evaluating the needs of the school with an eye toward improving its construction.

AMEDICAusa volunteers deliver school supplies to El Xab in March

The school’s needs are many. Hand built by local volunteers, it is constructed largely of bamboo, has no running water (and its well has since gone dry), no electricity, only improvised outhouses for sanitation, and dirt floors. Its tables and desks are mostly improvised from discarded wood and cement blocks.
Even pencils, paper and books are in short supply.

The community is made up largely of indigenous Maya campesinos, subsistence farmers and field workers who often can not afford even shoes for their children, much less the school supplies for their education.

Quevedo’s follow up story about AMEDICAusa‘s mission to “the School Around the Mango” aired in Guatemala on March 14th. Widely shared on social media, the story made its way to the offices of Fundación Tigo , the charitable arm of the Latin American telecommunications giant.

Even Guatemala’s President Gets Involved In New School

Inspired by the story, Fundación Tigo moved with astonishing speed. Committing themselves to building the new school, they planned new buildings, with ten classrooms, utilities, modern sanitation, two sports fields and even a computer lab. What could normally be expected to take a year or more was accomplished in weeks.

President Jimmy Morales and Tigo set the first stone at the School Around the Mango (Courtesy Government of Guatemala)
On July 15th, Tigo officially broke ground on the rebuilding project, with Guatemala’s President, Jimmy Morales, ceremonially setting the first stone of the new building. Construction is scheduled to be completed by October of this year. The students will be in their new school when classes reopen after the winter break in February.

“We are proud to have been a small part of this,” said Neale Brown, President of AMEDICAusa “but this is really a story about how one reporter’s efforts and the power of social media can come together to create change in a community.”

“Brian’s stories reached people, even across different languages, in a personal way.” said Brown. “They inspired people to get involved and to do something, even if it was something as simple as sharing the story on Facebook. That made all the difference.”

AMEDICAusa, inc. is an I.R.S. 501(C)(3) registered charity, headquartered in Frederick, Maryland.

Donating to AMEDICAusa ‘s ongoing programs is easy. Get the details here.

Ambulance and Medical Supplies Headed to Firefighters in Guatemala

Joint Project of Swiss NGO and AMEDICAusa, Inc.
takes equipment to Santa Cruz Muluá, Guatemala

A Swiss non-profit, Ambulance4Guatemala, and AMEDICAusa, a non-profit headquartered in Frederick, Maryland have teamed up in an effort to provide donated emergency equipment and supplies to firefighters in Guatemala. A used ambulance, stocked with medical supplies, is now on its way to the small city of Santa Cruz Muluá in western Guatemala where it will serve two different municipalities and the small villages that surround them. About 30,000 families or roughly 100,000 people live in the area, most are impoverished.

AMBULANCE4GUATEMALA in New Jersey with unit bound for Guatemala

The Swiss group, Sara Berhend, an attorney, Dr. Claudine Moser, an Obstetrician and Gynecologist, and Pierre Martin are delivering the ambulance by driving it over 3000 miles to Guatemala. They raised most of the money for the purchase of the ambulance and travel expenses from private donors in Europe and combined efforts with AMEDICAusa who works closely with Guatemala’s fire services to provide equipment and training throughout the country.

Medical Supplies loaded onto the ambulance at AMEDICAusa in Frederick, Maryland

AMEDICAusa provided additional funds for the purchase of the ambulance, filled it with donated medical supplies, and provided technical expertise as well as assistance in selecting the recipient departments in Guatemala.

The Swiss team travelled from Zürich to New Jersey where they picked up the ambulance and began their travels, first to Frederick, Maryland. There they loaded the vehicle with emergency medical equipment and supplies at AMEDICAusa’s headquarters, then continued their journey toward Guatemala. They expect to arrive in Guatemala before August 20th.

Ambulance and team continue on their way to Guatemala

Ambulance donation enables unique solution for two cities

“There are two cities involved here,” said Neale Brown, President of AMEDICAusa. “One, Santa Cruz Muluá, had a small Fire Department already in service and some experience with running an ambulance. Unfortunately, their old ambulance has broken down leaving them with nothing. The neighboring city, San Felipe, had previously approached AMEDICAusa about starting a Fire Department in their municipality, but are just now starting the construction of their Fire Station, and they are not ready for the equipment yet.” Neither department had yet acquired a fire engine and depend on bucket brigades and help from distant cities for fire protection.

AMEDICAusa with city and fire dept. officials in Santa Cruz Muluá, Guatemala

“When the question came up about who should get the ambulance, we saw an opportunity to broker a deal with the two cities to enable us to serve a great many more people.” Said Brown, who has just returned from a series of meetings in Guatemala.

“We had already committed to assisting San Felipe with starting a fire department and had acquired a fire engine for them. Our initial thought was that the ambulance would go there as well. The problem was that the station is not yet built nor have they hired the firefighters and medics to staff it. We really didn’t want the ambulance to sit in the elements unused in the interim. While visiting the area, we became aware that Muluá had the opposite problem. They had the firefighters and a small station, but no ambulance.

The Church at San Felipe, Guatemala

So, we met with the Mayors and Fire Chiefs, and arrived at a solution. The ambulance will go to Muluá, and they will use it to respond to both cities, beginning immediately. When the fire engine is ready, it and the accompanying rescue equipment will go to San Felipe, who will in turn cover Muluá.

Fire Engine for being readied for donation to San Felipe, Guatemala

AMEDICAusa will be providing joint training to both departments as well, so they can work together effectively.”

While such “mutual aid” agreements are fairly commonplace within the United States, they are rare in Central America.

Volcano Explosions Prompt Warning in Guatemala

Residents and Agencies Warned of Imminent Ashfall
Two very large explosions at Guatemala’s Santiaguito Volcano have caused the government agencies to issue warnings in southwestern Guatemala.

The latest, occurring this morning at 5:12 local time, threw ballistic bombs for over a mile, an ash cloud over 16,000 feet high and caused pyroclastic flows to rumble down the mountainsides.

(INSIVUMEH photo)
A Pyroclastic flow is a collapsing, high-density mix of hot lava blocks, pumice, ash and volcanic gas. They move at very high speed down volcanic slopes, at up to 450 miles an hour. One such event buried the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum.

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Friday, a similar, somewhat smaller explosion rocked the mountain.

Volcano Warnings for Ash and More Explosions.
INSIVUMEH, the government scientific agency charged with monitoring volcanic activity throughout the country, issued a warning for significant ashfall for 20-25 miles south and west of the mountain, with the advisory that fine ash could drift much farther. They also noted that additional explosions and activity are likely with a possibility of explosions much greater is size. Aircraft have been warned away from the area.

Friday explosion at Santiaguito
Volcanic ash can range from fine dust particles to gravel and poses significant health risks when inhaled. Volcanic ash is heavy, and significant ashfall can cause roof and structural collapse. When wet, such as from Guatemala’s recent heavy rains, it has the consistency and weight of wet concrete and can cause massive landslides.

Several of these volcanic landslides, called Lahars, have occurred in Guatemala over the last week, both at Santiaguito and Volcán Fuego another of the country’s three erupting volcanos.

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The warnings include the villages of San Marcos and Loma Linda, Palajunoj, Finca El Faro, Patzulin, El Patrocinio, and the populations of El Palmar, San Felipe, Las Marías and others in this area. It is likely to drop Ash on Mazatenango and its municipalities.

AMEDICAusa, inc. is an I.R.S. 501(C)(3) registered charity, headquartered in Frederick, Maryland.

Donating to AMEDICAusa ‘s ongoing programs is easy. Get the details here.

Guatemalan Landslides Leaving Many Homeless

Tzununá, Sololá, Guatemala

168 people left homeless and more than 28 structures damaged by landslide in a small Guatemalan village.

The landslide occurred in the Patuyá section of Tzununá, where authorities are setting up two emergency shelters to house the affected people, the National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (CONRED) reported. (CONRED is the Guatemalan equivalent of FEMA in the United States.)

Cristian Rodriguez, CONRED spokesperson, reported that at least 28 families are affected and they are coordinating with other officials to transfer them to a shelter.

(photo: Prensa Libre / CONRED)

“The houses were flooded by mud and stones that broke off from the mountain. Those affected are going to be moved because they are cut off and there is continued danger of further slides.” added Rodriguez.

AMEDICAusa Vice President Silvana Ayuso is in Guatemala and has been in contact with CONRED and Military officials at the scene and reported that emergency supplies are already enroute to the area.

“We are preparing to send emergency food supplies and clothing right now.” said Ayuso. ” This is happening in other places in Guatemala, and there is a significant danger of a much larger landslide happening anywhere right now… We must be ready.”

In the Department of Quetzaltenango on July 12th, a landslide killed a 61 year old man, despite efforts by the local firefighters to revive him.

Another slide was reported in the Department of Alta Verapaz last night.

Last October a catastrophic landslide buried the village of El Cambray Dos, outside Guatemala City, killing an estimated 350 people, many of whom were never recovered.

https://www.amedicausa.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/CarmenAdmusic.mp4

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Municipal Orange Alert to be declared in Santa Cruz La Laguna.

In order to expedite assistance for affected families and help prevent further damage or injuries, the Mayor of the Municipality is expected to make the declaration today.

Current Guatemala Landslide Danger Map – Areas in red are at the highest risk (CONRED)

According to information provided by CONRED, soils in the western areas of Guatemala are over-saturated with the recent heavy rains, conditions which facilitate landslides. More Rain and thunderstorms are expected today.

In addition, officials are concerned with the possibility of Lahars, volcanic mudflows of ash, rocks and rainwater, that can be literally boiling hot and have the consistency (and mass) of wet concrete. A Lahar occurred on June 13th from the slopes of Santiaguito, one of three currently erupting volcanoes in Guatemala.

Video of Tzununa Landslide

Video of flooding in Jerez, Jutiapa.

AMEDICAusa, inc. is an I.R.S. 501(C)(3) registered charity, headquartered in Frederick, Maryland.

Donating to AMEDICAusa ‘s ongoing programs is easy. Get the details here.

AMEDICAusa Brings Medicine to Guatemala Hospital

Hospital Nacional de Retalhuleu, Guatemala-

Unimpressive, overstuffed, black plastic bags, the kind usually reserved for yard debris, were delivered to the National Hospital of Retalhuleu, Guatemala today. Rather than being deposited with the trash, these bags were wholeheartedly welcomed by the Physicians and staff of the hospital.

The national health system of Guatemala is the primary source of medical care for the impoverished and indigenous people of this Central America nation. It has been hard pressed to keep up with demand and shortages of medicine and supplies have been serious and widespread. The Hospital at Retalhuleu has been particularly hard hit by these shortages.

In this case, the plastic bags are filled with medicine and supplies to help ease the shortage of necessities at the hospital.

AMEDICAusa volunteers arrived here in an SUV filled with these supplies.

“Gathering donations from pharmacies, physicians and suppliers around Guatemala was hard work “said AMEDICAusa Vice President Silvana Ayuso. “but very much worth it. Every patient we help is important.”

Normally, AMEDICAusa’s focus is on the more rural areas of Guatemala. 90% of the country’s doctors are practicing in the major urban areas, leaving the rural, poor and indigenous chronically underserved.

“This was an important donation, and actually in line with our rural focus.” said Neale Brown, President of AMEDICAusa.

“Seriously ill people from the rural villages must often be referred to the National Hospitals in the larger towns and cities. If they can make their way – and it is difficult and expensive for them to do so – to the hospital, it is obviously better if there is medicine and supplies to actually care for them.” Said Brown.

AMEDICAusa, inc. is an I.R.S. 501(C)(3) registered charity, headquartered in Frederick, Maryland.

We are always looking for volunteers who wish to help in Guatemala. Get the details here.

Donating to AMEDICAusa ‘s ongoing programs is easy. Get the details here.

Nuestro Diario, Guatemala – 5/18/2016

Nuestro Diario, Guatemala -5/18/2016

HOSPITAL RECEIVES DONATION (translated from the Spanish)

The charity AMEDICAusa delivered a shipment of medicines for patients in the National Hospital in Retalhuleu.
The contribution was made by Silvana Ayuso, Vice President of the Organization, who explained that the drugs were donated by Guatemalan doctors.
The batch of medicines including antibiotics, anti-inflammatory and spasmolytic medicines, among others, said Ayuso.
For her part, Wendy Méndez, responsible for the pharmacy of the Medical Center, said that the donation will help to alleviate the crisis that affects all hospitals.
“It will be well used in the different units,” she said.
Some patients came to thank [the volunteers] for the help.

AMEDICAusa Volunteers bring badly needed supplies.

Colonia Santa Elena, El Asintal, Guatemala-

With clapboard walls, dirt floors and some classes forced outside by the lack of space, The “Escuela Oficial Rural Mixta” (Official Co-ed Rural School) of this small village is typical of the elementary schools of rural Guatemala. Rain and insects enter the class rooms with equal alacrity, light streams in only from the roughed-in, uncovered windows and the spaces between the wall boards and tables are largely makeshift affairs, fashioned from cinderblock and unfinished boards.

The people here are “campesinos”, subsistence farmers or field hands of Maya decent, who, on those rare days that they actually get folding money, must make their living on around $1.50 a day…. The children wear second or third hand clothing, washed in the nearby creek beds by their mothers, rubbed against a rock to remove the worst of the stains. The diet is beans, rice and corn tortillas…the diversion a pickup game of soccer played on a field shared with cows and the odd horse.

Even elementary school here is a luxury that many families cannot really afford. The school uniforms meant to muddy the difference between the “haves” and the “have-nots” are beyond the reach of families in a village that has no “haves”, and basic school supplies are much too expensive for most.

The drop out rate is extreme, with less than 18% of the children going on to high school, and even fewer graduating and going on to any sort of trade school or college programs.

AMEDICAusa Volunteers with students in Colonia Santa Elena, Guatemala

AMEDICAusa volunteers arrived today bringing boxes of notebooks, pencils, pens, crayons and other basic educational supplies for delivery directly into the student’s hands. It is the tenth such mission to Guatemalan schools this year.

“By easing the burden on the families and assisting the teachers with basic educational supplies and equipment, we help the kids to stay in school.” said AMEDICAusa President Neale Brown. “Every kid who goes on to high school and beyond is a victory for us, and more importantly, a victory for his or her village.”

AMEDICAusa, headquartered in Frederick, Maryland, brings more than supplies to these educational missions. Dovetailing with their medical programs, these visits also bring basic health and dental education to the students and provide an opportunity to assess the health needs of the community, as well as identifying health concerns for particular students.

“We’ve seen everything from eye infections to broken bones and other traumatic injuries on these missions.” said Brown, a retired Fire Officer and Paramedic. “It’s a rare occasion when we don’t find at least one child or village resident who is in need of medical care, and whom we either refer to a clinic or, in the more severe cases transport ourselves.”

Anyone interested in volunteering on a school mission can get the details here. Those kind enough to donate to AMEDICAusa ‘s ongoing programs may do so here.

AMEDICAusa, inc. is a I.R.S. 501(C)(3) registered charity.

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