ETESC / Guatemala

	ETESC facilitates a meeting in which community members affected by the civil war address government officials to advocate for changes.
	Community health workers pilot a new health software program based on everyday mini-computers: cellular phones.
	An example of the type of wood burning stove ETESC's environmental health promoters are working to replace.

Equipo Técnico de Educación en Salud Comunitaria (ETESC, Technical Team for Education in Community Health) was founded by refugees of the Guatemalan civil war who returned to help rebuild their country. Today it has evolved into a community nonprofit that seeks to revitalize and repair the social fabric in the rural communities of Huehuetenango, Guatemala, through holistic development.

The organization provides health care, legal accompaniment, and education to each of the communities with which it works.

Legal Accompaniment

The government of Guatemala guarantees many rights to those affected by the brutal civil war, including financial restitution, health services, and exhumation and dignified burial of loved ones’ remains. While laudable on paper, realizing these rights is all too often beyond the reach of victims because of language, education and economic barriers.  

ETESC provides the crucial “legal accompaniment” that empowers victims to enact their rights. Staff helps individuals and entire communities understand the legal process, complete bureaucratic requirements and, where necessary, hold government officials accountable for unmet needs. Overall, ETESC serves as a bridge between communities and government officials so that rights truly create justice and reconciliation.

In 2011, ETESC will provide dignified burials of remains in dozens of resolved cases.

Health Promotion

ETESC trains and supports a network of rural, indigenous community health workers, many of whom now have over a decade of experience. Rural communities face a series of barriers to health care including transport time and cost, language barriers, low or no literacy, and time and cost of consult and treatment. As trained and trusted community members, CHWs are uniquely positioned to address essential health needs.

In 2011, ETESC is seeking to add community management of childhood pneumonia—a key childhood killer—to their range of services.

Environmental Health

ETESC teaches communities about environmental issues and undertakes projects of their choosing to address them. ETESC is working with five indigenous communities to improve home air and water quality in order to protect the environment.

For 2011, each of the 5 communities working with ETESC’s environmental health workers has chosen to implement improved wood burning stoves. Wood is the main fuel for cooking and heat in rural communities. Improved stoves use 50-70 percent less wood, protecting forests and decreasing the time and money families must spend hauling wood. In addition, the stoves can lower indoor smoke by up to 90 percent, protecting women and children from respiratory illnesses such as asthma, pneumonia, and emphysema.  

Cervical Cancer Screening

Cervical cancer is preventable, yet is one of the top cancer killers in the developing world. Screening and prompt treatment make the critical difference. In 2011, ETESC launched a single visit screen-and-treat program in partnership with two local clinics. This technique allows women to receive screening results immediately, and when appropriate receive treatment during the same visit. ETESC is also reaching out to remote communities to educate both men and women about cervical cancer screening.  

Adolescent Health Education 

To tackle HIV, unintended pregnancy, and partner abuse, it is critical to start education early. ETESC aims to reach teenagers as they make critical life decisions with a series of sexual health and HIV education modules for secondary school students.

Dozens of school principals responded positively to the opportunity to integrate this critical information in their school curriculum. Most students report this series of modules is their first exposure to factual information about sexual health and HIV.