Reproductive Health Workshop

AMA & FUNDAP REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH WORKSHOP

The valley community of Santa Catarina Ixtahucan consists of five villages. Eight health promoters of AMA working in area of Santa Catarina participated in a reproductive health workshop on Tuesday October 26 of this year. The workshop was hosted by FUNDAP, a development foundation. FUNDAP coordinated with AMA in order to guide and train 15 health workers. For this activity, AMA did outreach and facilitated transportation to the city of Quetzaltenango.

The symposium was truly impacting for many, including Pascuala Sohom. She is an AMA member who currently lacks the ability to read or write proficiently. Pascuala found the activity engaging and could easily understand the information presented. Unfortunately, some of her fellow community members do not support her participation in AMA and were especially skeptical when they heard Pascuala was training to be health promoter. “People are accustomed to receiving everything without sacrifice and effort.” This workshop is challenging assumptions about aid because it requires attendance and interaction. Pascuala has a new awareness of reproductive health and sexually transmitted diseases. “The importance of sexual health cannot be understated because communities do not encourage dialog, but now I am informed and comfortable discussing this with my family and friends.” The reverberations of these presentations will be incredibly profound, especially  for those with little to no access to health information.

Three presentations were given by FUNDAP volunteers, Importance of Breastfeeding, Sexual Health and Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Afterward, everyone received a diploma in order to document their involvement. This creates legitimacy for the health promoters. Community members will be more open to the sometimes strange and challenging new information. “AMA encourages us to share this vital knowledge with our colleagues, families and neighbors. We need financial support to replicate these events as we have no resources for transportation. We appreciate AMA’s involvement and hope they will support us in the future.”

“AMA’s impact can not be assessed for everyone in the community but we feel that participation of men and women on these topics are great for promoting gender equality.” Issues about sexual health are many times avoided due to ignorance or embarrassment, which explains its need in communities. Now the participants can return to their friends and family with tools and the knowledge to improve lives.After each presentation the audience was encouraged to ask questions and discuss the material that was covered.

  

SURVEY OF THE LANDSLIDE VICTIMS: SIX WIDOWS AND SOLE SURVIVOR

SURVEY OF THE LANDSLIDE VICTIMS: SIX WIDOWS AND SOLE SURVIVOR

Catarina Tuyo performed a small community survey of the families who lost loves ones in the mudslides at kilometer 171.  Caty had the opportunity to visit each of the families and conducted basic questions used to discern the needs of each family. A basic food basket was suggested and her visit was used to decided if this was an appropriate action and what other items and assistance is desired. 

COMMENTS FROM THE FAMILIES:

 1.   Nicolás López Guarchaj of Chuicutama:  The parents commented on Nicholas‘ generosity and described how he was helping to buy items needed for the kitchen, paying his sister’s tuition, and also has been growing crops in Cantel. “We are now very concerned because we have expenses that we can not afford. We need money to transport a harvest to Cantel and also for our daughter’s schooling. She is in the fifth grade and wants to attend next year. Unless we can find a scholarship for her, this is not likely to work out. These are the items most pressing and if you could support us in in these areas we would be most grateful.” The following lists names and ages of Nicolás’ siblings:

       1.  Diego López Guarchaj - 21 years

2.  Catarina López Guarchaj -19 years

3.  Manuela López Guarchaj -17 years

4.  María López Guarchaj -15 years

5.  Manuela Jesús López Guarchaj -13 years

6.  Pedro Benito López Guarchaj - 7 years

 2.  Domingo Tzaput Guarchaj of Pacutama:  Doña Manuela commented that she needs to construct a small kitchen. Not only is it something that she needs, but it was the her late husband’s desire as well. She is currently living with her parents, but is not accustomed to this lifestyle and wished to live on her own. Living with her parents is more difficult for the family because they now have more people and therefore are spending more money. The following lists names and ages of Domingo and Manuela’s children:

1.  Diego Tzaput Guachiac - 13 years

2.  Manuel Valeriano Tzaput Guachiac - 11 years

3.  Catalina Tzaput Guachiac - 9 years

3.  Miguel Vicente Guachiac Chivalán of Pacutama:  The father of this young man said he could not work and is also playing the role of mother. Miguel’s wife died two years ago which has left the children to be provided for by their grandfather. Miguel’s daughter, Catarina is 14 years old and is also playing the role of mother. She could not help take care of the family and continue her studies. She is no longer a student and now is caring for her 2 year old brother and is preparing the food for her 4  younger siblings. The following lists names and ages of Miguel’s children:

1.  Catarina Rufina Guachiac Chivalán - 14 years

  2.  Paulina Isabel Guachiac Chivalán - 11 years

3.  Carlos Roberto Guachiac Tum - 7 years

4.  Ana Guachiac Tum - 5 years

  5.  Virginia Angelina Guachiac Tum - 2 years 

4.  David Dionisio Ajú Och of Chajuab: The mother and her married children are very concerned about the health of David’s father. He is frequently sick because of the loss of his son. They were also left with David’s debt. His wife is back with her parents along with their son. Manuela Carmen Ajú Och is 15 years and is his only sister; who along with his wife and his adopted son returned to his wife’s parents house. 

5.  Manuel Esquipulas Guarchaj Ajú of Chajuab:  The eldest daughter is a single mother living with her parents. The mother was pregnant and due in a month and ten days when the father passed away. “Now my mom has a baby and we have not yet found a name for him. My mom and I worry about whether we will have enough food each day.” The following lists names and ages of Manuel’s children:

1.  Sara Magdalena Guarchaj Rajpop - 20 years

2.  Josefina Guarchaj Rajpop - 15 years

  3.  Manuel Mardoqueo Guarchaj Rajpop - 12 years

  4.  Isabela Guarchaj Rajpop - 8 years

5.  Henry Fausto Tum Guarchaj - 4 years

6.  Mario Adolfo Guarchaj Rajpop - 3 years

7.  A recently born son without a name 

6.  Cruz Tzaput Guarchaj of Pacorral II: His wife is extremely depressed and hurts for her children especially her son, Gasper, who is in Pre-primary and always says he does not want to go to school because “ I don’t have my dad to check my notebook and homework.”  The following lists names and ages of Cruz’s children:

             1.  Catalina Tzaput Guarchaj - 9 years

    2.  Gaspar Tzaput Guarchaj - 6 years

              3.  Dominga Tzaput Guarchaj - 4 years

        4. Rosalía Tzaput Guarchaj - 1 año

7.  Don Antonio Guarchaj Guarchaj of Chuicutama:  He and his wife have recently spent a lot of money on medications, food and other expenses. “I'm very worried about my debt and being able to meet my needs because I could not do anything this last week. I tried to split wood but I could not even lift the ax. I would like help with purchasing medicine and visiting a doctor. The following lists names and ages of Don Antonio’s children:

1.  Diego Guarchaj y Guarchaj - 16 years

2.  Isabela Guarchaj y Guarchaj - 13 years

3.  Catalina Guarchaj y Guarchaj - 10 years

4.  Miguel Guarchaj y Guarchaj - 7 years

5.  Carlos Mateo Guarchaj y Guarchaj - 4 years

SURVEY CONCLUSIONS:

1.  On this survey Catarina came to discover that the seven families need a basic food basket to meet the short term goals of providing immediate sustenance.  This will help alleviate at small fraction of their everyday costs as all are purchasing items like corn daily.

2.  The families also desire support raising chickens and sheep.

CMA GROUP RESPONSES:

CMA groups of Chirijox, Chajuab and Xeabaj II collaborated to provide aliments for the families. The women regret this event and feel for the families who lost relatives and also for those who were injured and unable to support their families. This charitable act is is very significant; it is yet another example of the connectedness and love that these communities have for one another. Two CMA's of Chirijox, 4 representatives of a Pacutama CMA and Claudia Villagrán prepared food for the widows and families participating in the Mental Health workshop.

The women provided the following:  80 pounds of corn, 4 bags of soap, 4 pounds of salt, 6 bags of pasta, 2 pounds of rice, 2 pounds of beans, 1 bag of oatmeal, 2 bags of ground flour meal, 1 bag of oats and 28 pieces of cob.  In each of the 7 bags were given to the families was as follows:  11 1/2 pounds of corn, three different things and 4 corn cobs.