In Guatemala and much of Latin America, women are primary caregivers, tasked with feeding and caring for their families and looking out for their health.
In 2011, the World Economic Forum ranked Guatemala 112 out of 135 countries in terms of gender equality. Women often struggle to obtain levels of education comparable to that of their male counterparts, and as a result their families suffer.
To directly combat this pressing issue, Primeros Pasos founded the women’s health education project, Stairway to Good Health, in 2007.
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The goal of Stairway to Good Health is to “empower and encourage women to make conscious, informed decisions about their individual health and the health of their family and community.”
Activities begin by discussing hygiene practices and healthy habits, and as confidence is built, later progress to discussions on more taboo topics like menopause and its effects.
Activities are participative and welcoming, and aim to encourage education in the women which can then be taken back to their families and communities.
Thus far, the project has been successful with many positive responses.
“When I go to the clinic with my kids, they always give me good service,” one participant noted. “The Program is a great benefit for me and my family, and the educators teach us lots of things that we didn’t know… they teach us to have self-esteem. God bless the good-hearted people that support the clinic and this benefit for me and my family.”
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Another participant mentioned “I have four children. The program Stairway to Good Health is a great help for my family because we have scare economic resouces… I hope that the Program continues giving us this service because we need it; we need the training as well as the health care for my kids and my husband. I hope that the Program continues because it is a great service to my family. Thank you.”
Currently, Primeros Pasos works with six separate groups of women throughout the communities of the Palajunoj Valley. Three year-long modules comprise the curriculum of the program, which educates women about family health and personal development.
Family planning and community participation are two important topics addressed in the program, and in the final year women are able to become health educators and start new health focus groups, or they can plan and educate a project to educate their communities. Women with good attendance are entitled to free medical and dental services in the clinic for herself and her family.
The Stairway to Good Health project will continue to empower women to raise healthy families and be confident, active members of their communities.
To support programs like these, consider making a financial contribution to Primeros Pasos at http://www.primerospasos.org/donate/ .
