MEXICO: Access to health care for indigenous communities
The indigenous communities of Mexico’s southern state of Chiapas have been left far behind the rest of the country in terms of access to health care and other services. Facing poverty, marginalization, and discrimination, these communities suffer from disproportionately high rates of malnutrition, tuberculosis, maternal mortality, and other threats to health and survival. Language and cultural barriers also prevent indigenous people from accessing much needed health services, as most health providers do not speak their language.
Rebuilding systems, improving access to care
HealthRight International began partnering with Hospital San Carlos (HSC) in Altamirano, Chiapas following the Zapatista uprising in 1994. At the time, already inadequate health services were worsened by conflict and the flight of many of the region’s health workers. Thirteen thousand people from indigenous communities in the region were left with reduced access to care. Over the years, HealthRight has developed a close partnership with the Hospital San Carlos to provide physician volunteers and to build the capacity of local staff and community members to provide care and services.
Comprehensive and long term solutions
HealthRight works to increase access to health care for the indigenous communities of Chiapas, while building local capacity. Through the establishment of local partnerships and active community involvement, HealthRight can ensure that all projects develop local roots that will enable their continuation in the long term.
A long term commitment
Throughout its 15 year history in Chiapas, HealthRight has established a range of partnerships with local communities, including:
- A program was developed in partnership with the HSC to train indigenous women to become nurse auxiliaries. As the only hospital that offers translation between doctors and patients in local indigenous languages, nurse auxiliaries provide a vital link between hospital staff and indigenous patients. This program was successfully completed in 2006.
- From 2001 to 2006, HealthRight partnered with indigenous communities to address the root causes of maternal and child health and nutrition problems. The project enabled communities to better promote their own health through improved food security, knowledge and skills.
- Since 2007, HealthRight’s involvement with the HSC has been focused on providing physician volunteers to provide healthcare services and train HSC staff and health care providers.
- An ongoing initiative addresses the high rates of TB infection. HealthRight has partnered with local community groups to train volunteer community health workers to educate their communities on the risks of TB, and to identify those infected and make referrals for treatment.
- In 2008, a number health facilities and promotores were chosen to participate in a HealthRight sponsored pilot program which expands the role of community health workers to include working with health facilities to monitor patient treatment and collect and deliver patients’ sputum samples for testing, among other duties.