Welcome to Health & Help
We are a women-led volunteer organization
that transcends borders and empowers communities by providing essential care to people in places where resources are scarce and doctors even more so.
Together, we have established 2 clinics in the remote villages of Guatemala and Nicaragua.
Scroll down to learn our story and...
This is Gloria
Meet Donna Gloria,
a resilient and hard-working woman living in the picturesque village of Chuinajtajuyub, Guatemala.
This village nestled amidst breathtaking mountains fosters a close-knit community. However, she faces challenges when it comes to accessing quality healthcare. Donna Gloria with her big heart and even bigger family, understands the struggles all too well.
To visit a doctor, she and her neighbours have to travel far and stand in long lines for hours, leaving them vulnerable to the perils of inadequate healthcare.
Donna Gloria works as a cook,
while her husband Juan works as a bus driver. Her homemade tamales, banana ice cream, and tortillas are beloved by her customers.
However, there is a hidden struggle behind her culinary talents. As she cooks over an open fire, Donna Gloria often finds it difficult to breathe due to her asthma. Yet, with an unwavering spirit, she faces each day with a smile.
But deep down she knows that there’s nothing she can do — as all doctors are far away from her village and medications are always expensive.
Donna Gloria is not alone in her struggles.
Her neighbours face countless obstacles too — insufficient sanitation, scarce clean water, and inadequate nutrition.
All of this has cast a dark shadow over their lives, leaving them vulnerable to preventable and manageable illnesses.
We saw it all…
and started working
— This village is located at the intersection of several roads in the middle of the wilderness, making it a unique place that can be reached by people from the 4 departments – Kiche, Huehuetenango, Quetzaltenango and Totonicapan.
When our founders, Vika and Karina, discovered this village, they immediately recognized the dire need for medical support.
Determined to make a difference, they embarked on a journey to establish the 1st clinic in Chuinajtajuyub.
However, their path was not without challenges. Skepticism lingered among the villagers, unsure of the impact this initiative could bring.
Gaining trust
The journey to build the clinic was not an easy one.
But as days turned into weeks, the clinic’s construction became a symbol of hope — an embodiment of a future where healthcare would no longer be an elusive dream With the support of Donna Gloria, her husband, and the entire village, the clinic gradually took shape.
Brick by brick, it stood as a testament to the collective effort and belief in a better tomorrow.
Respecting the traditions
To earn the trust and acceptance of the villagers, Vika and Karina embarked on a mission to honor the local customs and beliefs.
Together with the locals and with the assistance of the mayor, we prepared the clinic for its launch, but not without the community’s approval.
As a result, we arranged for the presence of a revered shaman who would bless the clinic's construction.
At a hallowed Mayan cemetery, a sacred ritual unfolded, accompanied by offerings of cocoa beans, corn, candles, and alcohol.
All of which symbolized our deep respect for the beliefs, traditions, and faith of the community.
The clinic is open
As the clinic's doors opened, a world of possibilities unfolded before the village of Chuinajtajuyub.
Donna Gloria, her family, and countless others, now had the vital access they desperately needed for medical care. Their health and well-being were about to take center stage as a new chapter began within the clinic’s walls.
The clinic’s first trial
Despite Donna Gloria’s own struggles with asthma,
she found solace in the care provided by dedicated healthcare professionals.
However, when Juan her husband started experiencing deteriorating health, Donna Gloria’s anxiety intensified. Especially because if Juan were to lose his job as a bus driver, their family would face hunger.
Fearing the worst, she urged him to visit the newly established clinic. And when he did, her intuition was correct and her worst fears confirmed, as Juan was diagnosed with diabetes.
The weight of uncertainty burdened her, until a glimmer of hope emerged.
Donna Gloria discovered that the clinic provided the necessary treatment free of charge. In that moment, her fears dissipated, replaced by a sense of relief and gratitude.
Life transformed by Health & Help
For many villagers, the clinic became their guardian of well-being, empowering them to reclaim their lives.
Routine checkups, medication they couldn’t afford before, and even lifesaving treatments are now within their reach.
And as for Donna Gloria, her health has significantly improved. Sometimes she shows her appreciation by bringing treats - tamales, banana ice cream, and tortillas - as tokens of gratitude.
Other times, she seeks care
for her weary hands from kneading dough or discomfort in her stomach.
Thanks to the clinic, she receives the necessary treatment, illuminating her life with renewed hope.
Take action and follow the journey
— If it hadn't been for you, I don’t know what we would do. Before you came, there were no doctors here, Domingo Sanchez
Join us as we redefine the landscape of compassion and care.
Your support can amplify our impact, extending the reach of the clinic to neighbouring villages where dozens of people, like Donna Gloria, struggle to live to their fullest.
Together, we can build a future where healthcare is a fundamental right and hope flourishes.
Be part of our journey today!
Help us reach more people by sharing this story
Would you like to help?
Health & Help in real life
