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Nurses shape the future

Nurses, Doctors, Counselors—Everyone’s a Part of the Team in Guatemala

In the Western Highlands of Guatemala, nurses, doctors, counselors and community health workers form the backbone of a primary health care workforce bringing high-quality services to families in remote, hard-to-reach communities—improving care from before conception, to the day of birth, to a child’s fifth birthday and beyond.

Through the US Agency for International Development’s Maternal and Child Survival Program (MCSP)—implemented in Guatemala by Save the Children, Jhpiego, PATH, JSI and others—families are learning the importance of nutrition, antenatal care (ANC), family planning and routine health checkups. For historically disadvantaged communities across the region, accessible, quality primary health care services are a game changer.

MCSP supported the government of Guatemala to provide health care workers with training, mentorship and supervision to improve the quality of reproductive, maternal, neonatal, child and adolescent health and nutrition. In the process, Guatemala is building resilient, accountable and responsive health care systems that reach more families than ever before.

Click the arrows below for a few snapshots of the staggering impact.

Photos by Karen Kasmauski/MCSP
Story by Loretta Dzanya, MCSP 

Nurse Eunice Gomez and Dr. Otto Felix, at the Centro de Atención Psicosocial (CAP), work together to provide high-quality health care to women and children in San Sebastián. They just finished an ANC appointment with Juana Fabian, a young woman in the first trimester of her first pregnancy. Their next patient—shown here—is a young boy fighting pneumonia. He comes into their busy ward for oxygen each day.
Nurse Eunice Gomez and Dr. Otto Felix, at the Centro de Atención Psicosocial (CAP), work together to provide high-quality health care to women and children in San Sebastián. They just finished an ANC appointment with Juana Fabian, a young woman in the first trimester of her first pregnancy. Their next patient—shown here—is a young boy fighting pneumonia. He comes into their busy ward for oxygen each day.
Many hospital visits in this region are for children suffering from malnutrition. Three-year-old Santos Gonzales is no different. His aunt Natividad Gonzales Perez brought him because he was having severe episodes of diarrhea and had been diagnosed as underweight at another CAP clinic in Guatemala City. Nurse Natalia Lopez makes him feel at ease in the exam room.
Many hospital visits in this region are for children suffering from malnutrition. Three-year-old Santos Gonzales is no different. His aunt Natividad Gonzales Perez brought him because he was having severe episodes of diarrhea and had been diagnosed as underweight at another CAP clinic in Guatemala City. Nurse Natalia Lopez makes him feel at ease in the exam room.
Nurse Natalia Lopez examines a low-birthweight child in an incubator at a regional hospital in Huehuetenango, Guatemala. She was trained by MCSP to counsel her patients on the importance of ANC, and to provide timely, high-quality newborn care on the day of birth and during the postnatal period.
Nurse Natalia Lopez examines a low-birthweight child in an incubator at a regional hospital in Huehuetenango, Guatemala. She was trained by MCSP to counsel her patients on the importance of ANC, and to provide timely, high-quality newborn care on the day of birth and during the postnatal period.
Providers see newborns and children for wellness visits. Here, a baby is weighed for health and growth monitoring. Providers also educate families on healthy daily habits such as exercise and nutrition.
Providers see newborns and children for wellness visits. Here, a baby is weighed for health and growth monitoring. Providers also educate families on healthy daily habits such as exercise and nutrition.
At the Palajachu health post, a nurse feeds porridge to baby Raqueli during a food demonstration with the Mam indigenous people of the Western Highlands. The boy’s mother, Elida Escalante Cardan, learns that the meal provides the protein needed to strengthen her son’s bones and muscles.
At the Palajachu health post, a nurse feeds porridge to baby Raqueli during a food demonstration with the Mam indigenous people of the Western Highlands. The boy’s mother, Elida Escalante Cardan, learns that the meal provides the protein needed to strengthen her son’s bones and muscles.
Leslea Marcelina Rivas is an education counselor trained and certified by MCSP. She is responsible for distributing contraceptives and educating communities on reproductive health. She ensures a “safe space” where clients can discuss their questions free from discrimination, judgment and criticism.
Leslea Marcelina Rivas is an education counselor trained and certified by MCSP. She is responsible for distributing contraceptives and educating communities on reproductive health. She ensures a “safe space” where clients can discuss their questions free from discrimination, judgment and criticism.
At a regional hospital in Huehuetenango, Dr. Odeli Bravo and Nurse Mayra de Leoin assist 17-year-old Isabel Perez to deliver her baby girl. Isabel attended ANC at the same clinic.
At a regional hospital in Huehuetenango, Dr. Odeli Bravo and Nurse Mayra de Leoin assist 17-year-old Isabel Perez to deliver her baby girl. Isabel attended ANC at the same clinic.
After delivery, Dr. Bravo gives Isabel’s newborn a vaccine. MCSP worked with Guatemalan communities to build a strong, routine immunization system. This is one vaccine of hundreds that will ensure the next generation is protected against preventable illnesses.
After delivery, Dr. Bravo gives Isabel’s newborn a vaccine. MCSP worked with Guatemalan communities to build a strong, routine immunization system. This is one vaccine of hundreds that will ensure the next generation is protected against preventable illnesses.
In order to improve timely, high-quality care, nurses at Nebaj District Hospital meet regularly to assess patient data and treatment quality. They discuss patient and service delivery records to identify gaps in care and develop strategies to address them.
In order to improve timely, high-quality care, nurses at Nebaj District Hospital meet regularly to assess patient data and treatment quality. They discuss patient and service delivery records to identify gaps in care and develop strategies to address them.
Home and hospital visits, nutrition classes and reproductive health counseling—MCSP worked with remote communities in Guatemala to improve the quality and increase the availability of these health care services for all Guatemalans.
Home and hospital visits, nutrition classes and reproductive health counseling—MCSP worked with remote communities in Guatemala to improve the quality and increase the availability of these health care services for all Guatemalans.
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