Maternal & Child Health

Every child deserves a vibrant start, and every mother
should feel supported.

The Reality for Mothers and Children

Mothers and children are the foundation of every family and community, yet in rural Guatemala, they face the greatest health risks and barriers to essential healthcare.

80%

of rural indigenous Mayan women deliver without formal prenatal care.

68%

of children ages 0-5 are chronically malnourished.

56%

56% of children are stunted in growth.

Creating Healthier Futures

01

HDLF’s Child
Nutrition Rehab Center

  • Children health assessments during weekly HdlF pediatric clinics and monthly visits to outer lying communities surrounding Nuevo Progreso.

  • Admission-based rehabilitation nutrition care for chronically malnourished children, aged 0-5 years, who require extra medical attention until they are healthy enough to go home.

  • Outpatient nutritional therapy and medication for children who can safely recover at home with medical support. Most children are able to be treated from home, this allows them to stay with their family environment as they become healthy.

  • Care and nutritional assistance are monitored and provided by HdlF staff to the families as needed, to ensure children continue their rehabilitation after going home.

02

Prenatal and
Postnatal Care

  • Obstetric ultrasounds are offered to mothers using the hospital’s new world-class ultrasound machine, a critical tool that helps them carry healthy babies to term by diagnosing silent threats and guiding life-saving procedures in real time.

  • Blood pressure and weight tracking during and after pregnancy. This monitoring ensures a safe pregnancy and delivery for mom and a strong start for their baby.

  • Date assessments and reassessments to inform mothers of their expected delivery dates. Considering that one in ten rural Guatemalan mothers don’t receive any prenatal care, many expecting mothers come in not knowing about the progress of their pregnancies.

  • Newborn checks are offered by local and visiting pediatricians to ensure a strong start for the baby. The first weeks of delivery are the most vulnerable for a mother and their baby.

03

Education &
Essential Supplies

  • Weekly classes for families on proper nutrition, hygiene, and infant care are hosted by the Child Nutrition Center at HdlF. Often, mothers are encouraged to lead and participate in these educational sessions.

  • Vital community-based charlas (educational workshops) on reproductive health, prenatal and postnatal health, child development, and women’s health are organized by local staff and our MCH teams.

  • Donated maternal & children essentials like clothing, nutritional supplements, baby bottles and diapers, hygiene kits, school supplies and much more.

04

School-Based
Health Tours

  • Comprehensive health screenings directly at schools in remote villages to determine the health conditions of children and their parents. This helps identify children and mothers who need follow up diagnosis and treatment.

  • Consultations and clinical services are provided to children and their parents by HdlF local professionals and our visiting teams in dental, vision, and pediatric care.

  • Informational presentations and resources about our services and care.

05

Building MCH
Networks of Trust

  • The exchange of knowledge and practices between our MCH teams, comadronas (traditional birth keepers), and public health facilities are intentionally organized in the spirit of mutual learning and respect. This collaboration honors the rich traditions of Guatemalan birth work and strengthens relationships between modern healthcare providers and traditional caregivers.

  • MCH teams and comadronas work together on maternal, postpartum, and newborn care. As the longtime stewards of birth care, meaningfully working with comadronas is essential to gaining trust from mothers in the community.

  • Donated medical supplies like medication, ultrasound gel, dispensers for ultrasound probe cleaning, CNM kits, c-section kits, gowns, and more.

MCH Impact & Achievement Highlights

New Ultrasound is a Hit!

Our visiting OBGYN’s and nurses saw over 370 women at both HdlF and at outreach clinics in the rural communities. Our new ultrasound has been a huge hit with patients, who are thrilled to see their babies for the first time!

Caring for Children on Time

Thanks to our outreach initiatives the HdlF team tested kids in 15 elementary schools and found that 72% of them were underweight for their age group. Chronic malnutrition affected 35% of the same group.

Make a Difference Today

Thanks to our supporters, like you, we are celebrating 50 years of service, 10 years of light. Together, we bring medical care, and peace of mind, to someone who has nowhere else to go.