utopias

Cloudforest Expands Its Mission to Medical Programs

Cloudforest Initiatives has decided to expand its mission to include support for medical care for the indigenous people of the Highlands of Chiapas. The decision was based on the past support of CI members for medical projects, the striking need for basic health care in the Highlands and the positive response from the Autonomous Council to CIs health care proposal (Autonomous Council letter). This article will describe the project and how CI supporters may participate.

The health needs of the people and the health care system organized by the autonomous Maya were described briefly in the February 2001 Utopias. Through CI member donations of funds and labor, a clinic was construct-

ed in one village in the Highlands in 1999. However, the need for the training of health promoters and the lack of supplies, have kept the clinic from maximizing its potential. Several CI members, who have had many years experience in providing health care to Guatemalan refugees in Chiapas, expressed interest in supporting the clinics in the Highlands. These conditions led Cloudforest Initiatives to believe that health care projects were a logical and likely successful goal.

An additional benefit for CI was the award from the San Carlos Foundation of a stipend to Steve Guthrie, CI Board member and U.S. Coordinator, for the coordination of CIs medical project in Chiapas. He will begin that challenge October 1, 2001 in Chiapas. His previous work has been in education. He will coordinate and direct the projects that are described in this article.

The last of May 2001, CI hired an energetic, committed physician, Doctora Beatriz Herrera, to provide health care, educate health promoters and participate in the translation of the book, Where Women Have No Doctor, into Totzil, a common Maya language. Doctora Herrera has had two years experience working with indigenous people in Chiapas.