In the highlands of Guatemala, a group of Mayan midwives works tirelessly, traveling to bring essential medical care to pregnant women in small rural communities. The absence of infrastructure like electricity and clean water makes safe home births difficult and poses challenges to childhood health and development. Solar Midwives, an extension of Mayan Power & Light, provides essential technologies for families during their child's critical first 1,000 days of life.
Guatemala has the highest mortality rate for children under 5 in Central America. Leading causes of childhood death include lower respiratory infections and diarrheal diseases. Unclean water, wood-burning stoves, and kerosene lamps throughout homes pose significant health risks, especially to young children. Minimal resources trap families in a cycle of generational poverty, increasing the likelihood of illness and malnutrition. It doesn't have to be this way.
We directly collaborate with midwives to pinpoint families with expectant mothers in urgent need of sustainable technologies. Distributing three essential components-solar power and clean cookstoves to mitigate secondhand smoke, and water filters guarding against waterborne parasites-we not only address poverty at its root but also deliver resources during a pivotal time in families' lives. These modest adjustments contribute to increased productivity, improved nutrition, and extra savings.
By working with local midwife groups, we have been able to identify the families in dire need of sustainable technologies. MPL has affected long-term change by considering social, environmental, and economic factors. Our solar LED lighting systems are easy to manage and good for up to 10 years. Water filters eliminate pathogens. Small-scale changes make massive strides in improving families' quality of life, especially in ensuring their children can reach their fullest potential.
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