Protect The Health of School Children in Rural Guatemala

The Healthy Schools program works with 10 rural schools and 12 daycares in the area to provide necessary medical care and health education. Every day, one class from a surrounding school arrives at the clinic. Prior to their visit, the students are given sample cups and asked to bring in fecal samples for analysis in the clinic’s laboratory. Each child receives a medical and dental check-up and participates in fun, interactive health education classes given in the clinic’s education classroom. The day not only provides students with immediate clinical care, but also tools for bettering their hygiene habits and preventative measures to improve their quality of life.

In addition to the clinic visits, throughout the school year health educators visit the schools providing one hour workshops on topics like: nutrition, hygiene, sexual education, the environment, alcohol and drugs, domestic violence, natural disasters, and children’s rights. Each year over 500 workshops are provided throughout the valley. Through the access to health education, the children learn better hygiene habits as well as preventive measures to ensure their quality of health is not compromised.