Guatemala, 2009

It wasn’t until Elena’s children developed the same chronic cough that she and most of the community had lived with for years that Elena really became concerned. She had seen too many people become sick from the same cough.

Residents of Caquixajay, Guatemala had suffered from chronic coughs for years, making them short of breath, and causing health issues. With the lack of accessible healthcare, it was a difficult problem to overcome.

"Each year, 2 million people worldwide die from exposure to cooking stove smoke inside their homes."

Ruth Humbert, RN and independent Project Coordinator, helped to provide health care to poverty-stricken communities, and relocated permanently to Guatemala in 2003. Supported by the Health Ministries Association in Independence, Missouri and other international organizations, she sought ways to help people act collectively.  Ruth became acquainted with Outreach International, and received, with her small staff, Participatory Human Development Process training.

Ruth’s facilitation in village group organizing helped residents identify smoke-related respiratory problems created by open fires in their homes. Each year, 2 million people worldwide die from exposure to cooking stove smoke. Most victims are children and women from poor rural families who lack access to safe water, sanitation and modern household fuels.  

Residents identified the Chapina stoves—which vent the dangerous fumes outside—as being of the greatest benefit to their health. The Chapina stoves also use less wood and heat more rapidly.

This Mayan community is now empowered to provide each family with a new stove, and to solve other community issues. They are training and acquiring community health workers, and establishing a pharmacy and a medical clinic. This is just one example of how Caquixajay families are seeking sustainable ways to improve their families’ health.

Having a cooking stove vented outside means that the residents and their children will be healthier. For that, they are grateful. But they are even happier realizing they have the power to create a brighter future for themselves.