Dear Friends, the last several months have been extremely busy, as we work hard to meet basic health and other needs of the many people affected by Tropical Storm Agatha. Here is just a short list of some of the things we have been doing, in terms of numbers.
Towns and villages where we have participated in relief efforts: 14.
Agatha-related water projects: 3.
Temporary shelters provided with medical supplies: 4.
Towns provided with counselling and psychological care: 5.
Towns provided with emergency medical care: 7.
Towns provided with emergency shipments of water or other water purification solutions: 5.
Engineering/infrastructural/rebuilding projects: 3.
New organizational collaborations: 22.
And that is not all! Activities are still ongoing, including medical care, psychological care, water projects, and infrastructural projects. This week, we are clearing water purification technology through customs which will provide clean water to another 20,000 people as they rebuild their water systems. We have multiple staff on the ground who are thinking about the long-term nutritional consequences of the disaster for families who had their crops destroyed.
Please continue to partner with us as we work to support affected communities. There will be many ongoing needs over the next year, and we will need your help to spread the word about our activities. Once again, thanks as always for your generosity, consideration, and care for the people of Guatemala.
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Did you know that, by contributing to Wuqu' Kawoq's adult diabetes treatment programs in Guatemala, you are participating in a paradigm shift? Previously in Guatemala, there has been very little attention to the treatment of chronic diseases, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and kidney disease. However, as antibiotics and other lifesaving technologies now prevent most deaths from infectious disease, Guatemalans are living longer and the rates of chronic diseases are rising rapidly. These chronic diseases, although they do not kill immediately, cause disability and impact the financial and emotional security of families.
Wuqu' Kawoq is pioneering a model of health care delivery in Guatemala that includes the comprehensive treatment of chronic diseases, and you all are a part of it!
This month, one of our physicians was in Guatemala to perform a review of the diabetes program and see patients. He reports that things are going well. The program is now functioning in three highland Kaqchikel towns and we are regularly seeing over 60 diabetics, which is more than our goal of 50 patients for this Global Giving Project. This may small like a small number of patients, but in fact is an impressive logistical and financial committment to the wellbeing of these patients, who will need to be followed for their entire lives.
Thank your continued support of the project. As we move into the summer months, we would like to expand the number of patients we are able to serve, however this depends on the generousity of supporters like you! We ask that you consider continuing to support this project, either through a one-time gift or by registering to make a small regular monthly donation.
Even if you cannot support this project financially at this time, we ask that you support us in other important ways, such as forwarding project information to friends and family, posting links to the project on Facebook or your personal website, etc.
As always, we welcome your comments and suggestions.
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Dear friends, I have just returned from Guatemala, where I had the chance to interact with many of the diabetics enrolled in our program.
I am happy to report that all are content with the program and most are achieving great diabetes control. The last several months have seen great success in improving the dietary and nutritional aspects of the program. As a result our patients state that they feel healthy and well, with renewed energy for work and family life.
Recently we have accepted several new diabetic patients into the program with long-standing disease. Although they have had diabetes for decades, with us they are experiencing for the first time having their blood sugars in a normal range. For most, they failed to achieve blood sugar control previously due to the high cost of the medication.
Now, however, through the generous support of you, our program sponsors, we are able to offer these medications free of charge -- in effect, cutting the direct link between poverty and poor health outcomes for diabetics here in Guatemala. We are deeply grateful to you all, and we hope that you will continue to support our work in the coming months.
