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Primeros Pasos works in the Palajunoj Valley, a rural valley in western Guatemala with high rates of communicable diseases, malnutrition, and untreated chronic diseases. Primeros Pasos is the only reliable and affordable source of local health care for the residents of the Palajunoj Valley.
Primeros Pasos has a long-term vision for the improvement of healthcare in the Palajunoj Valley, integrating its clinical healthcare service with health education and preventative care. Primeros Pasos seeks to maximize existing resources, partnering with communities and other organizations to find efficient solutions to health care challenges.
Clinical Care
Primeros Pasos provides primary care, dental services, lab exams, and medications for the approximately 15,000 people living in the valley. Our clinical staff includes a physician, a dentist, a lab director, and a dental assistant. Rotating medical students from the University of San Carlos and foreign universities supplement the capacity of our full-time clinical staff. There are approximately 8,000 patient visits at Primeros Pasos each year.
Health Education
Primeros Pasos has developed a large health education program in the community for children and over the past year has developed a successful health education program targeted at mothers, grandmothers and family caretakers. Over 500 health education workshops have been given this year; in schools, communities and in the clinic classroom. With a focus on prevention, the health education programs gives the tools necessary for both children and adults to make informed decisions about their own personal health care and the health care of their families.
Healthy Schools Program
Through the Healthy Schools Program, Primeros Pasos brings health care and health education to rural schools and day care centers in the communities we serve. Each day, a class from one of the schools we serve arrives at the clinic. The children each receive a medical and dental check-up and are also tested for parasites. Children then participate in an exciting and interactive health education program. The day not only provides students with immediate clinical care, but also tools for bettering their hygiene habits and preventative measures to improve their quality of life.
Women's Health Education Program
The mission of this program is to raise health awareness, provide information that may benefit participants, and empower parents and caretakers with additional health-based knowledge that may improve the lives of themselves, their children and families. Primeros Pasos
is able to provide workshops that are designed to address health issues and concerns effecting families and communities that the clinic serves.In addition to addressing basic adult and family health concerns, workshops focus on topics such as arthritis, diabetes, self-esteem, natural medicine, first aid, menopause, domestic violence, civic participation, leadership, environmental hazards, and many others. Primeros Pasos provided 26 workshops in 2008 and in 2009 added 3 new groups, bringing the total number of women enrolled in the program to 96.
Service Learning & Medical Education
Primeros Pasos is a center for health education, serving as a primary care rotation for Guatemalan medical students from the University of San Carlos - Quetzaltenango and for foreign students who participate in away rotations under the supervision of Primeros Pasos' attending physician. Each year, over 100 students and volunteers work at Primeros Pasos.
Cost-Effective Care
Primeros Pasos is a very cost-effective operation. In 2009, the clinic provided medical services and health education to over 8,000 residents of the Palajunoj Valey for about $50,000. Primeros Pasos receives approximately 80% of its funds from the Inter-American Health Alliance, our U.S. non-profit partner.
