Casco Urbano, San Jose Poaquil

  • Overview
  • Medical
  • Dental

Overview

The urban center of San José Poaquil is located in the Department of Chimaltenango, Guatemala. Although it is the most central area and the administrative heart of the municipality, the population living in the town center still faces significant hardships and lacks essential resources. Most community members work in agriculture and coffee growing, and the languages spoken are Spanish and Kaqchikel.

During initial communications with Global Brigades, community leaders expressed that, despite being in the center of the city, there is an urgent need for assistance. Their top priorities include the arrival of Medical Brigades, improved access to healthcare, and better educational opportunities, highlighting that living in the urban core does not guarantee access to basic essential services.

Department: Chimaltenango

 

Homes : N/A
Population : N/A
Water System : Not Started
Community Bank : Not Started
Electricity : Yes
Health Center : No
Community Health Workers : Not Started
Education : N/A
Distance from Lodging Facility : N/A

Medical

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

HEALTH CARE ACCESS:

Over 90% of the population in the municipality of Chimaltenango are part of Mayan indigenous groups. Public health care in Guatemala falls under the Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare (MSPAS) which has 2,200 service units across the country.  Even with this coverage, it is essential 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.

Untitled photo
Triage station in a community from Guatemala

28

Volunteers

331

Patient Consultations

187

Vision screenings

6

Health Education Workshops

BRIGADE INFORMATION:

Medical Brigades use the local school as their brigade site. The school has 6 rooms, where the various medical stations are conducted. 

AVERAGE PATIENTS ATTENDED: +200

BRIGADE SITE: Community School

MEDICAL VOLUNTEERS IN CASCO URBANO, SAN JOSE POAQUIL:

Chapter Date # Of Volunteers Chapter Date # Of Volunteers
Mount Allison University February 2026 28

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 dentists within a reasonable distance.

Untitled photo
Dental Station in a community from Guatemala

48

Patient Consultations

35

Number of Extractions

25

Fillings

6

Dental Education Workshops

4

Fluoride Treatments

BRIGADE INFORMATION:

Medical Brigades use the local school as their brigade site. The school has 6 rooms, where the various medical stations are conducted. 

AVERAGE PATIENTS ATTENDED: +200

BRIGADE SITE: Community School

DENTAL VOLUNTEERS IN CASCO URBANO, SAN JOSE POAQUIL:

Chapter Date # Of Volunteers Chapter Date # Of Volunteers
Mount Allison University February 2026 28

Local Reference Points

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

  • Feature

The Largest Movement for Global Health and Holistic Development

“Global Brigades” refers to one or more Global Brigades entities, each of which is a separate and independent legal entity; “Global Brigades, Inc.,” “Global Brigades Health and Development,” “Global Brigades UK,” “GBO Ghana,” “Asociacion Global Brigadas de Honduras,” and “Fundacion Brigadas Globales de Panama”. Global Brigades Health and Development (“Global Brigades Canada”) is a federally registered Canadian charity independent from Global Brigades Inc.

Guidestar 2021