Residents of the departments of Alta Verapaz and Baja Verapaz have limited access to public health services. Pregnant women, mothers and young children in particular suffer from inadequate health care. In addition, climate change and associated droughts have negatively affected agricultural yields in the region, leading to high levels of food insecurity. To address these challenges, AWO International is working with the Guatemalan NGO ASECSA, an association of community health services made up of midwives' associations and health cooperatives.
We suffer from inadequate care in health facilities and violence against women. It’s good that we now have access to information, because we women have rights! The ASECSA and AWO International project is a huge support, because not everyone has access to public health care and a balanced diet.
Viandy Estela Chén Oxlaj, 21 years old
Participant in the project “Advice for pregnant mothers”
Medical care by indigenous midwives
Our local partner organisation ASECSA trains midwives who come directly from the villages. This significantly reduces infant and maternal mortality. Women are also being helped to improve their food supply through climate-smart farming methods. This approach is particularly targeted at indigenous women from the Q'eqchi' and Achi' communities. In addition to health care, strengthening the economic independence of women is also important to us. Savings groups and workshops help women to improve their financial skills and provide for their families. This improves health, increases family income and promotes social cohesion and self-reliance in the communities.
Gemeinsam mit ASECSA ermöglicht AWO International die Weiterbildung von 32 Hebammen der indigenen Gruppen Q'eqchi' und Achi' im Bereich Gesundheit und Ernährung schwangerer Frauen.
Die Bildung von Spargruppen und die Heranführung an Sparmethoden ermöglicht Frauen eine verbesserte Verwaltung ihrer Einkünfte und mehr Unabhängigkeit durch die Stärkung ihrer wirtschaftlichen Grundlagen.
Die medizinische Weiterbildung der Hebammen trägt dazu bei, die Mütter- und Säuglingssterblichkeit zu senken und die medizinische Grundversorgung von Kindern verbessern.
Die Stärkung des traditionellen Wissens durch Informations- und Austauschangebote und die Verteilung medizinsicher Nutzpflanzen unterstützt die Hebammen in der Begleitung von Müttern und Kleinkindern.
Zur Sicherung der Lebensgrundlage werden jeweils 150 agro-ökologische Gärten und Geflügelfarmen errichtet, um das Einkommen zu steigern.
Projectinfo
| Place/Region | Cobán/ Alta Verapaz; Rabinal/ Baja Verapaz |
|---|---|
| Partner | ASECSA (Asociación de Servicios Comunitarios de Salud) https://asecsaguatemala.org/ |
| Activities |
|
| Duration | 01.11.2023 – 31.12.2025 |
| Budget | 400,000€ |
| Sponsor | Aktion Deutschland Hilft, WDR-Weihnachtskampagne 2023, „Mütter in Not“ |
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