Guatemala is home to more than 18 million people, a land of rich cultural and linguistic diversity, where 22 indigenous languages are spoken in addition to the national language Spanish. It’s divided into 22 departments (the equivalent of a state in the U.S.), within which 340 municipalities operate their own local governments in conjunction with departmental and national authorities.
Nursing Heart coordinates health services in three departments; Sacatepequez, Chimaltenango, and Solola, with the latter two presenting severe barriers to basic health services, and challenging infrastructure. Communities in these areas have long suffered marginalization, oppression, and trauma due in part to the Civil War that devastated the country over three decades from the 1960’s to the 1990’s, as well as a longer history of post-colonial governing that saw rural and indigenous populations fight to overcome extreme poverty and institutionalized discrimination.
Our work is based on our beliefs that all people deserve access to dignified healthcare services, and that every family in Guatemala has the right to seek preventative care with medical professionals who treat them with empathy, compassion, and kindness. Our work and our mission puts us at a crucial point in the national and international healthcare ecosystem that enables us to connect Guatemalan families with both local healthcare professionals and the monthly cohorts of visiting licensed nurses and nurses in training who fulfill Nursing Heart’s mission.