Guatemala provides 0.4 hospital beds per 1,000 inhabitants. The global mean is 2.9 beds. Guatemala only spends about $97 per person on healthcare. Comparatively, the United States spends $7,825 per person, and healthcare is not even an explicit “right” under the U.S. constitution.
The majority of doctors work in Guatemala City. For those living in rural areas, access to care is often non-existent.
Healthcare is one of the few focuses taken by HXP, as it addresses the immediate needs of the people. By aiding in the construction of a clinic, the focus of the community can shift more from survival, to improving quality of life. “Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care” – United Nations Declaration of Human Rights, Article 25
In response to these challenges, HXP Builders will be constructing a health center in a small town. This health center will bless the lives for the locals that currently travel many miles (often by foot) to visit a health center in a neighboring city. This initiative reflects a concerted effort to address the medical needs of the community in light of the ongoing economic and health challenges.