MEDICAL CENTER PROJECT
julio 3, 2021 2021-07-05 17:11MEDICAL CENTER PROJECT
The Greatest Need
Located in Central America between El Salvador and Mexico, Guatemala is a relatively small country with a population of approximately 18 million inhabitants. It has one of the highest poverty rates in the world with 54% of the people living below the poverty line. In 2014, almost a quarter of the population was living on less than $3.20 a day.
Guatemala also has the fifth highest rate of chronic malnutrition in the world. Chronic childhood malnutrition (and stunting) affects 47% of all children under the age of five. In 2019, only 40 percent of Guatemalan families had access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food.
Although Guatemala claims to believe that all citizens have a right to health care, the truth is that the Guatemalan health system is underfunded, understaffed and without resources to deal with complex diseases. Those who live day to day cannot afford the expense or loss of work to be able to travel to the capital for medical appointments or necessary exams.
If you ask the local people what their greatest need is, they will tell you that it is health. Poverty, malnutrition, poor living conditions, and limited availability of quality health care. The southeast region of the country consists of 3 departments: Santa Rosa, Jutiapa, and Jalapa. According to the 2018 census, there were 1,227,925 people living in this region. Aside from a handful of small public health clinics, there is only one small hospital located in Santa Rosa to serve these 1.25 million people.
In spite of the great physical need these people face, we believe they face an even greater need – a spiritual one. Not only will they die without hope, but they will face an eternity separated from God. Their greatest need is to have a personal relationship with Christ and the hope of eternal life.
TWENTY YEARS
DOING MEDICAL TRIPS
For the last twenty years, Word of Life Guatemala has sought to find ways to reach these physical and spiritual needs. During the months of February and March, two different groups of medical professionals arrive from the United States for an intensive week of medical and dental clinics in the rural municipalities or villages of the southeast region. One of the groups also distributes bags of food and staple items. In each of the two weeks of medical trips, more than 2,000 patients are seen. In spite of the large numbers of people seen, the need is always greater than the doctors can meet in one week.
During these last 20 years of medical trips, God has allowed us to experience first-hand the importance of health and to see that there are very few organizations that dedicate themselves to ensure that it is accessible to everyone. God has been moving us recently to take this ministry to another level, and to do more than what our “comfort” is accustomed to do. We believe that we have a great responsibility to go to the people with the most need, and what we desire to do in the southeast region of the country is what we have done for two decades, only now in a local way with an ongoing medical team of doctors, nurses, dentists, etc. We believe that it is God’s timing, and that this is going to bring great blessing for our community and beyond.
Guatemala in statistics
We love to inspire and guide you through any subject, develop new skills or upgrade your educational background.
the mission
We plan to establish a local medical center
on a piece of land at our camp property in the department of Santa Rosa in the southeast region of Guatemala. Our purpose is to bring health to the people, rescuing them from physical death, so that we can rescue them from spiritual death with the Gospel.
How Can I Be a Part?
We are looking for:
- Funds to begin construction on the medical center which we hope to complete in the next year.
- New and used medical equipment.
- Groups to come and help with the construction.
- Medical professionals who will give a week or more of their time to provide services in the clinic.
- Churches who will adopt the clinic and pay the operating costs for a week or more each year.
Download PDF for more information.
If you want make your gift securely online, be sure to reference the account 02956C
