Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Anemia Mania!
What is it and how can we prevent it?
Content: Anemia “occurs when the 2 as a severe public health among young children and
Tricks of the 2 level of healthy red blood problem in Guatemala. As teenage girls beginning
Trade: Energy cells (RBCs) in the body of 2007, 56 percent of chil- menstruation. The new
highs and lows becomes too low,” accord- dren under 2 in Guatemala monthly blood-loss in girls
ing to an article posted on were anemic, as were 39.7 going through puberty in-
The Cure: Falling 2 KidsHealth.org, which also percent of those under the creases the amount of iron
from above provides information in age of 5, according to a they need to consume.
Letter from the 3 Spanish. study posted on Nutri- Iron-rich foods include
Editor: I think I The article goes on to net.org, a web site dedicated iron-fortified grains and
can state that “this can lead to to information about nutri- cereals, red meat, egg yolks,
health problems because tion in Latin America and leafy green vegetables, yel-
Healthy Recipes: 3
RBCs contain hemoglobin, the Caribbean. low vegetables and fruits,
Choco-berry
smoothie
which carries oxygen to the While anemia can be a potato skins, tomatoes, mo-
body's tissues.” The disor- hereditary disorder, it can lasses, and raisins. Note that
der often results in fatigue also be caused by an iron drinking tea or coffee with a
and stress on bodily organs. deficiency. To prevent this meal significantly inhibits
The World Health Or- second type of anemia, an the body’s ability to absorb
ganization classifies anemia iron-rich diet is of utmost iron, while vitamin C pro-
in children under the age of importance, especially motes it.
La Hora Chapina
Publisher: Sheny
Huerta, shuerta@gt.
peacecorps.gov
Editor: Kristina
The Smack Down!
Crawley, kcrawley@ Happy New Year 2009 and colleagues leaving this year.
gonzaga.edu much success in your en- Sheny and I will start visit-
Senior Reporter:
deavors to improve the lives ing some of you in January,
Kristina Crawley,
kcrawley@gonzaga. and health conditions on in preparation for your close
edu hundreds of Guatemalan of service and follow-up.
students! Visiting the schools prior to
La Hora Chapina is a It’s time to renew the our visits will make you fa-
newsletter dedicated to bonds established with your miliar with the school’s
providing PC Guate- counterparts and parents. status and make the orienta- Project this year! Five of
mala volunteers with Begin home visits with tion to the teachers and par- them are men. They arrived
information regarding them, check school condi- ents easier. the 7th of January. Please
the Healthy Schools tions, do teachers trainings. Seventeen PCTs have join me in welcoming them
program. La Hora
This recommendation is been accepted and invited to and make them feel en su
Chapina welcomes
letters to the editor. especially for the group of come to the Healthy Schools casa!
Página 2 La Hora Chapina
The Cure
Comparing traditional remedies in Guatemala with common First Aid practices
One day last year, several of my teachers were working on repairing the roof of the school, replacing some lamina. A
few minutes in, I heard a loud crash and looked up to see one of the teachers looking through a huge hole in the roof,
shouting that Profe Giovani had fallen through to the ground approximately 25 feet below. I rushed into the classroom to
find Profe sitting upright on the floor with two other teachers pulling him to his feet.
Though stunned he was able to stand and was soon walking around. His scrapes were treated with water, iodine and
bandages, but the teachers were convinced he was in shock. To treat this they filled there mouths with a water/liquor
mixture and then sprayed him with it. A local healer was then brought to the school and performed some chiropractic
procedures to help with pain he was having in his hip. The next day he went to the health center to be seen and luckily
all was well.
General first aid recommendations would be that the victim not be moved until it was determined there were no seri-
ous injuries. After a fall of a similar magnitude, the victim should receive professional medical attention as soon as pos-
sible.
-Kristina Crawley
*If you’ve experienced unusual or uncommon first aid practices here in Guatemala, send an email to Kristina Crawley
at kcrawley@gonzaga.edu. Did it seem to work? Why did they do what they did?
January/February, 2009 Página 3
Healthy Recipes
Choco-Berry Dessert Smoothie Blend all ingredients, adding ice first. If does and have a smoothie party!
1 handful blueberries, strawberries or you’ve got access to protein powder
blackberries (or a mix of all three) add it to the drink for a boost. Contributed by: Kristina Crawley
1/2 cup milk Note: You may have to search a bit
Ice al gusto if you don’t have a freezer but you La Hora Chapina is always looking for
2 spoonfuls (or more) of hot chocolate should be able to find a tienda that new healthy recipes. Please email yours
mix or coco powder if you can find it freezes bolsitas de agua. If you don’t to Kristina Crawley at kcraw-
1/2 banana. have a blender find a neighbor who ley@gonzaga.edu.