Aldea Hierba Buena

  • Overview
  • Medical
  • Dental

Overview

Aldea Hierba Buena is located within central Guatemala. The typical house is made of adobe, cement blocks, and bricks. Children in the community have access to primary school. Currently, the community doesn’t have a water system but the municipality of San Andres is trying to build a water project for the community. Most of the community members work in agriculture, arts and crafts, and skilled labour. The languages spoken in the community are Spanish and Kaqchikel. During initial communications with Global Brigades, community leaders expressed that their top three needs were Medical Brigades, access to education, and water system construction.

Municipality: San Andres Iztapa

Department: Chimaltenango

Homes : 125
Population : 750
Water System : Not Started
Community Bank : Not Started
Electricity : Yes
Health Center : Yes
Community Health Workers : Not Started
Education : Up to primary school
Distance from Lodging Facility : 45 KM

Medical

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

HEALTH CARE ACCESS:

Tecpán Guatemala is a municipality of the Chimaltenango department situated 87 kilometers west of Guatemala City. Over 90% of the population in the municipality are part of Mayan indigenous groups. Public health care in Guatemala falls under the responsibility of the Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare (MSPAS) which has 2,200 service units across the country.  Even with this coverage, it is important to note that medications, supplies, and materials are often not available. Health worker density in rural communities is to 3.0 per 10,000 persons as opposed to 25.7 to 10,000 in urban areas of Guatemala. There are major gaps in health care services between rural indigenous and urban populations in Guatemala.

Community members in Aldea Hierba Buena have access to a Centro Comunitario de Salud, which is in the community. In this community centre, they have access to medical aid and medication but, the services provided do not meet the needs of the community. During initial communications with Global Brigades, community leaders shared that the most common illnesses were fever, flu, cough, and stomachache.

17

Total number of volunteers

172

Patient Consultations

7

Health Education Workshops

BRIGADE INFORMATION:

Medical Brigades use the local school as their brigade site. The school has 5 rooms, where the various medical stations are conducted. Other people from communities nearby like Aldea Agua Dulce Zaragoza might also attend Aldea Hierba Buena to join the medical brigades.

AVERAGE PATIENTS ATTENDED: +200,000

NEARBY COMMUNITIES: Aldea Agua Dulce Zaragoza

BRIGADE SITE: Community School

MEDICAL VOLUNTEERS IN ALDEA HIERBA BUENA:

Chapter Date # Of Volunteers Chapter Date # Of Volunteers
Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine June 2022 17

Dental

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

DENTAL CARE  ACCESS:

In working closely with the Medical Program, the Dental Program provides fillings, extractions, and fluoride treatments as a standard part of Medical Brigades. Most community members do not have regular access to dental care due to the lack of dentist within a reasonable distance.

77

Patient Consultations

56

Number of Extractions

8

Dental Education Workshops

BRIGADE INFORMATION:

Medical and Dental Brigades use the local school as their brigade site. The school has 5 rooms, where the various medical stations are conducted. Other people from communities nearby like Aldea Agua Dulce Zaragoza might also attend Aldea Hierba Buena to join the medical brigades.

AVERAGE PATIENTS ATTENDED: +200,000

NEARBY COMMUNITIES: Aldea Agua Dulce Zaragoza

BRIGADE SITE: Community School

DENTAL VOLUNTEERS IN ALDEA HIERBA BUENA:

Chapter Date # Of Volunteers Chapter Date # Of Volunteers
Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine June 2022 17

Local Reference Points

View the map to see the closest volunteer lodging facilities, hospitals, and other relevant points of reference.

  • Feature