Guatemala - International - Médecins du Monde

ACTIVITIES

During the three years of this project, the female workers and their families have benefited from outreach activities, including medical consultations and strengthening of their knowledge and skills concerning the right to health. At the same time, the project made those responsible in the Ministry for Health, the Guatemalan Institute of Social Security (IGSS in its Spanish acronym), the Ministry for Work and the state services aware of human rights connected with health—difficulty of access to healthcare and violation of the right to health of women working in the maquilas.
As part of its advocacy activities, in April 2010 MdM held the first international conference on the right to health for women working in these industries. More than 300 people participated.

RESULTS

6,811 medical consultations were carried out for the female workers and their families, 131 women were trained as health promoters.

OUTLOOK

In September 2010, the project was transferred to the local partner Associacion de Mujeres en Solidaridad (AMES). MdM launched a project where the objective is to promote the right to sexual and reproductive health for female textile industry workers in Escuintla and Suchitepéquez departments.

ACTIVITIES

Activities consisted of a donation to the local NGO Associacion de Mujeres Madre Tierra (a community organisation of rural female workers) and to the health centres of the two Departments (protective equipment and medical treatment for skin diseases). Medical consultations were also carried out in Suchitepéquez department.

RESULTS

Suchitepéquez: 1,049 people treated in eight communities.
Escuintla: distribution of medication, boots and waterproofs for 2,000 people.

OUTLOOK

These emergency actions encouraged a strengthening of ties with the local partners, with a view to opening an MdM project on sexual and reproductive health in Escuintla and Suchitepéquez departments.

ACTIVITIES

The last two months of 2010 were dedicated to the administrative opening of the project and the recruitment of the local team. Since January, premises have been opened and medical consultations have already started for women working in the maquilas and the food processing industries, and their families.

OUTLOOK

In 2011, the objective is to implement the planned project activities, and to make this new MdM activity highly visible in these departments, in partnership with the Associacion de Mujeres en Solidaridad (AMES) and Madre Tierra, a women’s association that carries out community-based training activities on sexual and reproductive health.