Palima

  • Overview
  • Medical
  • Dental

Overview

Palima is located within central Guatemala. The typical house is made of adobe, cement blocks/bricks. Children in the community have access to primary school. There is a gravity water system in the community that does not work well since it only provides water to 80% of the community. Most of the community members work in agriculture and fishing. During initial communications with Global Brigades, community leaders expressed that their top three needs were Medical Brigades, access to education and a water system renovation.

Municipality: Tecpan

Department: Chimaltenango

Homes : 100
Population : 350
Water System : Yes
Community Bank : No
Electricity : Yes
Health Center : Yes
Community Health Workers : Not Started
Number of Children under 12 : 101
Education : Up to 6th Grade
Distance from Lodging Facility : 32 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 Palima have access to a health center located three kilometers away, 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 malnutrition, parasites, cough and diabetes.

17

Volunteers

301

Patient Consultations

18

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. Patients from other nearby communities of Pacayal and Chipococ may also attend Medical Brigades in Palima.

AVERAGE PATIENTS ATTENDED: 

NEARBY COMMUNITIES: Pacayal and Chipococ

BRIGADE SITE: Community School

MEDICAL VOLUNTEERS IN PALIMA:

Chapter Date # Of Volunteers
University of Houston Medical Brigade July 2021 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.

60

Patient Consultations

93

Number of Extractions

BRIGADE INFORMATION:

Medical Brigades use the local school as their brigade site. The school has 5 rooms, where the various medical stations are conducted. Patients from other nearby communities of Pacayal and Chipococ may also attend Medical Brigades in Palima.

AVERAGE PATIENTS ATTENDED: 

NEARBY COMMUNITIES: Pacayal and Chipococ

BRIGADE SITE: Community School

DENTAL VOLUNTEERS IN PALIMA:

Chapter Date # Of Volunteers
University of Houston Medical Brigade July 2021 17

Local Reference Points

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

  • Feature