Delivering Healthcare to a Rural Community: The Work of Renate Hansler–Chocruz Clinic in Momostenango
The Chocruz, Pamumus Region is in the village of Santa Ana, located in Momostenango, northeastern Guatemala. Many of its residents live in poverty conditions, unable to cover costs of basic necessities. Malnutrition among children has been a problem for years. Their growth and normal development are affected due to the scarcity of foodstuffs. Added to this problem are common ailments, i.e. intestinal infection and respiratory issues. Additionally, there’s no adequate family planning resulting in large families. None the less, state-provided healthcare is difficult to access.
Given this environment, in March of 2012 a group of German students and locals organized to found an emergency and maternity clinic called Renate Hansler Clinic–Chocruz, thanks to assistance from the organization known as “Mirador”. The project promotes development to improve living conditions and overall good health for the population. The clinic offers prenatal and postnatal care to women in the community along with lay midwifery care. Similarly, according to Patricia Yolanda Tzoc Velasques, a nurse and the administrator of Chocruz Clinic, general medical care is offered.
The clinic serves children, young adults, men and women, essentially everyone in the area, and those living in the center of Momostenango, as well as neighboring communities. Clinic Chocruz has a work team committed to offering complete medical attention put together by a medical doctor, a certified midwife and a nurse who perform safe, reliable procedures at accessible costs between Q 5.00-Q 30.00. These are the clinical services provided:
- general consult
- prenatal and postnatal consult
- pediatric care
- gynecological consults
- treatment of wounds
- suturing
- pregnancy tests
- glucose level testing
- urine sample tests
Over the years the project has achieved success and satisfaction: one of these is the ability to help people in need and to donate medicine to people who require it but don’t have the economic resources to purchase it. Because the medical team lives in the community, patients’ confidence in them shows. Although the clinic offers general care, it has also been used as an emergency room provider: Patricia comments and mentions an example, “After the clinic first opened a woman arrived who was in labor. Upon arriving at the clinic she lost consciousness, yet she gave birth. Immediately following giving birth the umbilical cord should be cut which is a procedure usually not done at the clinic.”
The clinic is sustained through donations and collaboration from the German Embassy which has donated furniture and medical equipment to provide for patients. Patricia says, “There still is much work to do, a major challenge being to hire a permanent medical doctor, an indispensable roll and a necessity for the community. We’d like to be known nationally, obtain more equipment such as a lab so we could offer even better care to the patients.”
There are currently volunteer opportunities at the Chocruz Clinic for those who genuinely are interested in supporting the well-being of the community and who are committed to collaboration with the development of the clinic.
You can contribute to Clinic Chocruz’ work by making your donation at this Guatemalan bank:
Banrural, account # 3079063875, in the name of Asociación Kavib’al Chocruz
Contact information:
Telephone: +502 4799 0522
email: info@clinica-chocruz.org / kayibal12junio@gmail.com
Location: Paraje Chocruz, Pamumús, Aldea Santa Ana along side the school FUNIGA
