Distance and time are the acting conditions that dictate the quality of medical care received by rural indigenous communities. A single Promotor (village Health Promotor) and a Comadrona (Midwife) are often the nearest and most accessible sources of healthcare for Q’eqchi’ villages scattered among the mountains and jungles of Izabal and throughout Northeastern Guatemala. Promotores and Comadronas are trained in first aid, birthing, medicine distribution, and other general healthcare, and are constantly continuing their education and training through Ak’ Tenamit and other organizations in the area. Both Comadronas and Promotores often come from families who have been village Promotores in the past, or are those who are interested in medical care and want to support healthcare initiatives in their communities.
This week, Ak’ Tenamit was pleased to host a volunteer group of medical professionals from the organization Team-5, who specialize in Remote Emergency Medical Response. These volunteers worked with over twenty-five Promotores and Comadronas from surrounding villages in a weeklong training focusing on Emergency First Response in remote rural areas. Promotores and Comadronas practiced skills such as complete patient examinations, burn treatment, checking vital signs, and other effective skills for first aid responses to emergencies.
One Ak’ Tenamit student serving as translator to volunteers and participant in the training reflected on the significance of learning about practical examinations and emergency wound care. The training permitted him to work with patients and practice medical procedures throughout his week of Practica internship at Ak’ Tenamit’s clinic. The week ended with a small celebration recognizing Promotores and Comadronas with certificates in Emergency Medical Response training.
Skills learned and practiced by the Promotores and Comadronas are vital to their work in the field. Often in cases of emergency in communities, illnesses and injuries must be handled within the villages themselves, and there is no way to reach outside medical assistance. Because medical supplies and resources are so limited in addition to the lack of health centers in rural areas, this training was a first step in addressing many serious healthcare needs. With emphasis on emergency response care, the week was full of imperative information and healthcare techniques that will enhance the regular medical aid received by people in the villages we serve.
We are grateful for the experience and work of our fantastic medical team at Ak’ Tenamit clinic, the student and volunteer translators, and Team-5 who led this training.
