Guatemala: Medical aid for Mayan communities near Lake Atitlán

Reader Gil Mobley says,

I hope your travels in Guatemala take you to Lake Atitlán. I am a physician that helped start/re-open the hospital that serves our hemisphere's largest community of indigenous people of one tribe: the Tz'tujil Mayans of Santiago Atitlán. Prior to our assistance, the area had among the highest maternal mortality rate in the hemisphere. Check out our story on www.puebloapueblo.org, please. After a miraculous opening, the facility was destroyed by a killer mudslide just a year ago. That didn't keep us down for long, as you'll read on the website.

Because of their geologic isolation and sheer numbers, (35,000) these Mayans have held on to their ancient culture more than any other.

One of my main jobs, currently, is to recruit docs to volunteer at the hospital to help and train the indigenous docs. I sponsor a continuing medical education course for state-side docs to learn 3rd world medicine and expose service volunteer opportunities in the area. As such, I love to tell the stories of the Tz'tujil Mayas and introduce my guests to a fascinating array of culture. That's the story behind www.tropicalmedicine101.com. The docs come to learn medicine and fall in love with the people. They then become donors of meds, equipment or money or come back to volunteer their time, the ultimate goal!

Image: "T'zutujil Maya traditional first bathing of a baby."

I asked how folks who wanted to volunteer could get in touch -- drgilmob at yahoo dot com is best. He adds, "I lead non-medical group building-trips to Guatemala's highlands regularly as well. That is how we rebuilt the hospitalito. Anyone can help!"

Also on Dr. Mobley's website, this personal account of the mudslides in October, 2005, written and photo-documented by a visiting doctor: Link

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