Organization For The Development Of The Indigenous Maya - Odim

ODIM OFFERS PRIMARY HEALTH CARE AND HEALTH EDUCATION IN TWO TZ'UTUJIL MAYA COMMUNITIES ON LAKE ATITLÁN, GUATEMALA (SAN JUAN LA LAGUNA AND SAN PABLO LA LAGUNA) THROUGH TWO MEDICAL CLINICS AND FIVE COMMUNITY EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN ORDER TO PREVENT ILLNESS AND ENABLE AN ELEVATED QUALITY OF LIFE AND SUSTAINABLE CHANGE.

CLÍNICA SANJUANERITA (SAN JUAN LA LAGUNA) AND CLÍNICA CHUITINAMIT (SAN PABLO LA LAGUNA) OFFERED SUBSIDIZED, PRIMARY HEALTH CARE TO 3,170 PATIENTS, INCLUDING FROM 40 SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES. SERVICES PROVIDED INCLUDED 4,094 DIABETES TREATMENTS, 5,969 LABORATORY TESTS, 1,637 FAMILY PLANNING METHODS DELIVERED, 768 ANTIBIOTIC TREATMENTS, 196 PRENATAL CONSULTATIONS HELD, AND 57 BACH FLOWER THERAPY TREATMENTS PROVIDED.

THE MAMÁ Y YO SALUDABLE (HEALTHY MOMMY AND ME) PROGRAM IS AIMED AT IMPROVING MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH TO COMBAT MALNUTRITION DURING THE FIRST 1,000 DAYS OF A CHILD'S LIFE. THIS PROGRAM INVOLVES A MONTHLY EDUCATIONAL SEMINAR AND SUPPORT GROUP FOR EXPECTANT AND NEW MOTHERS THROUGH AGE TWO YEARS OF THE CHILD. PARTICIPANTS LEARN ABOUT TOPICS SUCH AS HEALTHY NUTRITION DURING THEIR PREGNANCY, BREAST FEEDING, CHILD NUTRITION, COOKING TECHNIQUES, HYGIENE AND INFANT CARE, VACCINATIONS, FAMILY PLANNING METHODS, AND HOW TO RESOLVE EMOTIONAL CONFLICTS WITH SPOUSES AND OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS. SUPPORT GROUPS ARE LED BY LOCAL HEALTH PROMOTERS WHO HAVE BEEN EDUCATED BY GUATEMALAN AND INTERNATIONAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS. IN 2021, A TOTAL OF 199 MOTHERS PARTICIPATED IN THE PROGRAM AND THEY RECEIVED 775 VOUCHER TO PURCHASE FOOD DURING THE YEAR. ONCE GOVERNMENT HEALTH RESTRICTIONS WERE REMOVED, ODIM HEALTH PROMOTERS CONDUCT32 IN-PERSON WORKSHOPS WITH PARTICIPANTS. PROMOTERS PRODUCED 3 EDUCATIONAL VIDEOS THAT WERE SHOWN ON LOCAL TELEVISION. AT THE END OF THE YEAR, 57 MOTHERS AND THEIR TODDLERS GRADUATED FROM THEIR 1,000 DAYS IN THE PROGRAM. BASED ON REGULAR HEIGHT AND WEIGHT MEASUREMENTS OF THE INFANTS AND TODDLERS, 78% OF THE CHILDREN IN THE GRADUATION CLASS ACHIEVED A HEALTHY HEIGHT AND WEIGHT FOR A TWO-YEAR OLD CHILD.

THE DIABETES PROGRAM INVOLVES HEALTH CARE AND SUPPORT FOR OVER 350 PEOPLE LIVING WITH DIABETES IN THE TWO TOWNS. THIS PROGRAM INCLUDED A WEEKLY CLUB TO ENCOURAGE PARTICIPANTS TO EXERCISE, EAT HEALTHILY, UNDERSTAND THEIR CONDITION AND MEDICATIONS, AND TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO MANAGE THE DISEASE. SEVERAL PARTICIPANTS RECEIVED AN ONIL STOVE AND AN ECOFILTER AS WELL. IN 2021, 699 FOOD VOUCHERS WERE DISTRIBUTED TO DIABETES PATIENTS. ODIM HEALTH PROMOTERS MADE 24 HOME VISITS TO THE MOST VULNERABLE PATIENTS AND CONDUCTED 36 IN-PERSON WORKSHOPS TO A TOTAL OF 358 PATIENTS. IN SAN PABLO, 38% OF THE PATIENTS MAINTAINED CONTROLLED SUGAR LEVELS AND IN SAN JUAN 33% OF THE PATIENTS MAINTAINED CONTROLLED SUGAR LEVELS.