A Brief History

1990: Father Rafael Gama, S.J. opened a medical clinic at the Catholic Church in La Laguneta, Guatemala to serve the poor families of that area.

1995: In October, the Catholic Parish of the Blood of Christ assumed responsibility for the clinic under the administration of Sister Dani Brought, ASC and the Sangre de Cristo Health Project was founded.

1996: A year of rapid growth and development as the Project expanded to include five medical clinics, each with a community pharmacy, a dental clinic, a laboratory and programs that included health education, vaccinations, eye surgeries and environmental health and sanitation.

1997: A year to stabilize existing services and to establish coordination with other government and non-government organziations. Under the direction of Dr. Margo Young, CPPS the Project started the Health Promoter Program. In September the Project received legal status as a non-government, not-for-profit organization in Guatemala.

1998: The Project expanded its outreach programs of prevention and education in health and sanitation providing services in 21 primary schools in the area. In November, the Project began an integrated response to the needs of three new communities that were relocated to the area after the devastating effects of Hurricane Mitch.

1999: Opened a new clinic and pharmacy in one of the resettlement communities for victims of Hurricane Mitch. At the same time transferred the administration of another clinic to the control of the local Catholic parish in San Pedro Ayampuc.

2000: Celebrated fifth anniversary of the Project, and redefined the Project mission statement. Also conducted the first Surgery Campaign, with the help of volunteers from Dayton, Ohio, USA.

2001: Our Enivronmental Health and Sanitation program experienced rapid growth and expansion. Greater focus placed on continuing education for Project team members.

2002: The Project participated in the National Health Committee and provided health care services a day when Pope John Paul II visited Guatemala to canonize Hermano Pedro. A new clinic opened in Nueva Esperanza.

Today

In 2003 alone more than 97,000 people received direct services through the diverse programs and activities of the Health Care Project.  This figure represents a 58% increase in services offered in the primary schools.  Included are these statistics:

• 19,119 doctor visits
• 6,879 laboratory exams
• 24,276 persons made use of pharmacy services
• 14,424 flouride swishes were given
• 7,641 ecology presentations were given
• 87 persons received services from the Salud Ambiental program
• 32 people trained as Environmental Health and Sanitation Promoters
• 664 participants in Community Health Talks
• 55 volunteers collaborated with Health Care Project staff
• 30 potable drinking water analyses
• 5,000 trees planted
• 3,844 dentist visits
• 10,608 participants in the Deparasiting and Delousing Program
• 1,473 children vaccinated
• 8,670 participants in the Dental Health Education Program 

2003 also marked the entry of Proyecto de Salud Sangre de Cristo into cyberspace with the posting of its web site at http://health-care-project-guatemala.org/.  Visit the site to learn more about the project or to donate time, talent or treasure to the project.