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Community Health Worker Program

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Beginning in 2010, PCIH began developing in Sololá Guatemala, the world’s first Community Health Workers (CHWs) based in Integrative and Naturopathic Medicine. Beginning in 2019 all PCIH Community Health Worker programs will also follow the guidelines for CHW’s as established by the World Health Organization, in all countries where PCIH has been contracted to develop new programs.

What is a Community Health Worker?

Community Health Workers (CHWs) are trusted members of the community, serving as a link between health services and the people to improve access and quality of care. They enhance community capacity through outreach, education, and support. (American Public Health Association, 2008)

The CHW program was the first Naturopathic-based community health workers program worldwide.

The Community Health Workers (CHW) program model is the first community health workers program that is Naturopathic-based in the world.

It is providing a medical model as well as respecting the historical use and contributions of Mayan medicine and traditions.

CHW’s are trained to recognize basic medical emergencies, basic knowledge of medications, how to assist traditional midwives, recognize signs of malnutrition, monitor medication needs, to refer conditions to medical facilities, render CPR the use of basic botanical/ herbal medicine, to Mayan medicine in a safe way, acute basic homeopathy, medical charting and medical reporting to the clinic of NMGH and act as health advocates for community members that enter our health care system.

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Evidenced Diabetic Interventions

An evidenced based Diabetes prevention and treatment program was an early measurable intervention for PCIH as it entered into Guatemala. The original goal was to offer the community the following:

Reduced priced Diabetic medications and supplies.
A monthly Diabetic Club that included glucose testing.
Community based Diabetes prevention lecture series.
A program that was supplemented from home visits from PCIH community health workers.