GUAMAP http://www.guamap.org/

[Guest guest]

Interesting and great!

 

I have done some workshop with ASESCA Chimaltenango and never under stood

that you have such a good contact, great.

 

I have been asked by a patient if I know of any project (women) where some

people from Switzerland can donate a pice of land (no idea what the scale

is), to grow medicinal plants.

 

She is thinking of ASESCA but if you know of any organisation group?

 

I see many ways that we could co-operate from the objectives of GUAMAP.

 

I am in the mist of trying to forge contacts with medicinal plants growers

and out lets like ASESCA. there are two major business in the Capital but

like to avoid them if possible.

 

At the moment I am simply one person but I am pretty sure that we could

extend GUAMAP's work in the capital.

 

Fascinating experience...

 

I have a barefoot manual the First English language " edition (I think) might

it be of use to GUMAP?

 

My Spanish is still so so but as with anything it just a question of time.

Since GUAMAP have a lot of experience and know how, I have a small " libery "

of Chinese medicine one thing might be for GUAMAP to see if any of the

material is useful for them?

 

In order to request supplies what would I need to do?

 

For example if a cupping set (pumping style was to be available?)

 

My Columbian friend says she knows how to make muxubustion (which the

apparently are doing in Columbia).

 

Do you know if artimisa spp (Vulgaries?) is available in Guatemala and

where? If she does show me before she leaves for USA, it might be worthwhile

for GUAMAP to learn how to make moxa?

 

And maybe you already know and then I would ask if you could teach me?

 

Doc:

 

As part of our presence in the community clinics, we are also looking at

promoting the use of local plant medicines, re-supplying limited amounts of

Chinese herbs, and providing additional equipment, acupuncture needles of

various sizes, and pharmaceutical medicines by request. Our goal is to have

local health promoters take over the teaching function by the year 2005.

>

 

Marco:

 

I am doing something similar with regards to the plant medicine " How to

incorporate local medicinal plants? "

 

I do hope we and when people come to voluntary with GUAMAP can meet up...

 

To be able to get a limited amount of Chinese herbs would be a dream come

true...

 

Are you aware of the Traditional medicine program run by the MOH?

 

You should testify for the potential and usefulness of Chinese medicine

 

(they are sadly not the most honrable people but...)

 

 

Very inspiring your work....

 

 

Marco

[Guest guest]

Since i've gotten a number of emails off list asking about this here is info

from our web site. http://www.guamap.org/

 

 

GUatemala Acupuncture Medical Aid Project sends Spanish-speaking acupuncturists

and other health care volunteers equipped with a full range of medicines,

needles, teaching tools and treatment supplies to selected villages in northern

Guatemala. Local trainers of health promoters integrate GUAMAP´s acupuncture

training course into an ongoing health care curriculum. GUAMAP also sends

shipments of medicines and specialized supplies requested by health promoter

representatives for various community health projects.

 

Lay health workers called " heath promoters " are usually educated formally

through the sixth grade and then receive special training in basic medicine for

their communities. Heath promoters learned basic acupuncture concepts through

training provided by the National Association of Community Health Services,

(ASECSA). Some health promoters learned similar concepts and needling in Mexico

while living in United Nations-sponsored refugee camps through the 1980s.

ASECSA is now the non-governmental organization (NGO) with which GUAMAP partners

in Guatemala. ASECSA provides strategic support for our training courses and our

monitoring follow-ups after training.

 

 

 

GUAMAP's Acupuncture Training

 

Between 1994 and 2002, GUAMAP worked in cooperation with an NGO based in

Guatemala City, with a field office in the Peten. Now GUAMAP works in

cooperation with ASESCA's Peten office.

 

GUAMAP provides acupuncture training using Traditional (TCM)

for health promoters who were earlier thoroughly trained in health work basic

concepts. Health promoters then use what they learn to treat men, women and

children in their home communities. Since 1995, GUAMAP has trained some 95

health promoters in the northern region, reaching nine different communities.

GUAMAP and GUAMAP trained health promoters have recorded 5000+ treatments and

are developing a method of data collection to record the outcomes. Requests for

training come from the communities themselves through local health committees to

ASECSA. Some communities have already been trained in working with emergency

situations employing acupuncture.

 

GUAMAP trainers and staff have produced two manuals, both in Spanish: one in

basic acupuncture and one in emergency medicine. GUAMAP established training

protocols in 1999 for the basic (level I) and intermediate (level II) students

and switched to the exclusive use of disposable needles in its training and

re-supply functions

 

Future GUAMAP Work

 

Our work in training acupuncturists is entering a second phase. The population

we serve has been resettled into new communities in the Peten and the Alta

Verapaz region for much of the 1990s. They are now becoming integrated into the

rural areas where their communities are located. These new communities' medical

clinics provide treatments, including acupuncture and midwifery services.

 

GUAMAP will focus on continuing its basic courses and supporting additional

qualified health promoters to train at the beginning level. As part of our

presence in the community clinics, we are also looking at promoting the use of

local plant medicines, re-supplying limited amounts of Chinese herbs, and

providing additional equipment, acupuncture needles of various sizes, and

pharmaceutical medicines by request. Our goal is to have local health promoters

take over the teaching function by the year 2005.

 

 

 

 

True security must be rooted in true and complete social, economic and

environmental justice for everyone everywhere with no exceptions. Anything else

is an illusion.