Education of Mayan Midwives in Guatemala

Celia has completed her three year university nursing program! Many, many thanks to all who have supported her as she has completed her education with all of its academic and pandemic challenges.   She has passed all her clinical rotations.  All that remains is a final presentation to her faculty which will be scheduled in January 2023. After this she will return to work in the birthing center  (Asociacion de Comadronas de Area Mam: ACAM) as both a midwife and a nurse- the first nurse formally associated with this indigenous birthing center.

With Celia completing her education, the midwives recently met as a group to discuss what future educational efforts would be most beneficial for their organization as they continue to raise their professional capabilities and profile within the community.  They decided to seek further education for the youngest midwife who was not able to complete high school because of lack of personal funds.  Looking into the future of the organization, they would also like train their own physician.  (Presently an outside physician is hired as the medical director of ACAM).  They have set their sights on training one of their own, electing to train the 18 year old daughter of one of their older midwives who is academically capable of undertaking medical studies but has no ability to meet the costs (the Guatemalan system of medical training is similar to the European model where it is combined with university studies and students enter at 18 years old).  

Correspondingly, we will continue to raise funds for these educational efforts through GlobalGiving as these hardworking indigenous women, who came together during the Guatemalan civil war, continue to expand the level of clincal services availble to their people.