Our "Healthy Kitchens and Cooking for Nutrition" is a next step in our campaign on fighting malnutrition in rural Guatemala. This program will provide training for women on how to keep their kitchens clean, cook and serve with utensils and dining equipment free of pathogens that promote recurring health problems in children and adults alike, such as chronic diarrhea, amoebas and respiratory or eye problems. This program is passionately wanted by the women and is fundamental to family health.
Health care professionals in Guatemala are constantly treating the same kids and adults in their clinics for the same health issues that trace back to repeated contact with pathogens in their water, food purchased in markets or on the hands of food handlers. The results are problems such as chronic diarrhea, colds, influenza, worms and other debilitating diseases. Besides the health issue, this burdens the family economically due to having to pay for medicine and time away from making money.
By bringing qualified educators to teach the community about the importance of clean kitchens and the essentials of pathogen avoidance when handling food. Teaching women how to avoid these pathogens and diseases is crucial to family health and longevity. This program can teach the local women the best practices to help their families avoid certain sickness.
The training will have permanent impact on the lives of participants because the information that is given to them is knowledge and skills that can last a lifetime and be transmitted to their friends, offspring and extended family to impact generations to come. Developing a healthier lifestyle for their family will help them financially as well as they will be able to use their income on other important needs rather then on medicine and doctor bills.
