Primeros Pasos "First Steps"

The Inter-American Health Alliance's Guatemalan partner is Primeros Pasos (First Steps), a innovative community health program that provides an integrated program of clinical care and health education in collaboration with 12 schools and 18 day care centers in the Palajunoj Valley, Guatemala.

Primeros Pasos is the only reliable and affordable source of local health care for the residents of the Palajunoj Valley.  The clinic provides primary care, dental services, lab exams, and medications.

In addition to clinical services, Primeros Pasos also implements a large health education program in the community for children and a growing health education program targeted at adults. In 2007, Primeros Pasos gave over 500 health education workshops in the Palajunoj Valley and started a adult health education in 10 communities in the Valley.

Primeros Pasos is a center for health education, serving as a primary care rotation for Guatemalan medical students from the University of San Carlos- Quetzaltenango and for foreign students who participate in away rotations under the supervision of  Primeros Pasos' attending physician. Primeros Pasos is a Guatemalan non-profit and almost all of its permanent staff are Guatemalan.

Primeros Pasos is a very cost-effective operation, providing medical services to over 6,000 patients and health education to thousands more for approximately $35,000/year in 2007. IAHA provides Primeros Pasos with approximately 80 of its funds.

For more information on Primeros Pasos, visit their website at www.primerospasos.org