How women of Sololá bring change for healthier indigenous communities

In the lush Western highlands of Guatemala, the deep blue gem Lake Atitlán sits quietly, surrounded by volcanoes and colourful Maya villages with distinct customs and deep-seated beliefs. One of these beliefs is that a chronic disease like diabetes is inevitable.

 

 

This is what inspired Asociación K’aslimaal (Hospitalito Atitlán) – WDF’s local partner in the area – to roll out 'Healthy Habits for Prevention of Chronic Disease in Guatemala', a two-year project (and WDF’s fundraiser in 2021), in six villages of the Sololá department.

 

If in the past decade, the projects implemented by Hospitalito Atitlán (WDF 11-669, WDF 14-909, WDF 17-1527) have been the most consistent form of diabetes intervention helping marginalized populations, ‘Healthy Habits’ is the first systematic effort to provide primary prevention understanding and methods to Maya villagers, at the grassroots level.

 

But that was no easy task in a country affected by political instability, inequality, and poverty.

 

The healthcare system is significantly challenged by the burden of diabetes. According to the IDF Diabetes Atlas, the diabetes prevalence in Guatemala is 13.1%, which is the highest of all countries in Central and South America, accounting for 15% of all deaths in the country.