Hospital de la Familia

The Hospital de la Familia is a nonprofit hospital that has provided vital medical aid and health care to needy families in Nuevo Progreso, Guatemala.What started 40 years ago as a small dispensing pharmacy is today a year-round medical facility offering general medical, surgery, pediatric, obstetrical, and dental services. The hospital consists of wards that can accommodate up to 72 patients. During the past several years the hospital has maintained a staff of over 60 full-time employees, including 4 doctors, 12 nurses, and 3 or 4 nurse/nun instructors and a contingent of Guatemalan medical and dental students.The hospital treated over 13,000 patients last year. In addition, surgery is provided by volunteer U.S. surgical teams 4-6 times per year for 1-2-week stays. There are optometry and ophthalmological surgery teams that also provide care. These teams provide care to over 1500 patients annually. Other programs include a Nutrition Center, which offers nutrition therapy to infants and toddlers, a Dental Clinic, Nurse Training Classes, Sewing Classes for women and girls, as well as a 1-6 grade school with an enrollment of about 150 children.