PRIMER INFANCIA

                                                       

                                                             PRIMER  INFANCÍA
                                                          PASTORAL OF HEALTH


                THIS PROGRAM IS NOT A NEW TEACHING, BUT FOR THE CLINICA
                MAXEÑA IT IS A NEW, "IMPORTANT SHARING" OF CARE OF INFANTS.
                IT IS AN INTERNATIONAL AND ECUMENICAL PROGRAM.  IT BEGAN IN A                            CONVERSATION BETWEEN A CARDENAL AND A REPRESENTATIVE  OF
                UNICEF, IN A MEETING OF THE ONU, ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED                                NATIONS.  IT " IS REFERRED TO AS  A HISTORY OF LOVE.  IT BEGAN IN
                1982.  IT'S PURPOSE IS THAT "CHILDREN HAVE LIFE, AND
                LIFE IN ABUNDANCE"!  IT IS A HISTORY IS "OF LOVE", FROM ITS
                FOUNDATION.

                PRIMER INFANCIA IN GUATEMALA IS PART OF PASTORAL HEALTH OF
                THE BISHOPS OF GUATEMALA, BUT IS ECUMENICAL.  THE CLINICA
                 MAXEÑA AND THIS PROGRAM WORK WITH PATIENTS AND INFANTS OF
                 ALL RELIGIONS.  IN PRIMER INFANCÍA, ALL BIRTHS ARE CELEBRATED IN
                 THE FOUR COMMUNITIES WHERE THIS PROGRAM WAS INITIATED.

                  THE NEW DIRECTORA OF CLINICIA MAXEÑA, MAGADALÍ GUTIERREZ
                  BROUGHT THIS PROGRAM TO OUR CLINIC.  IT IS PRESENTLY ONLY IN
                  FOUR COMMUNITIES.  VOLUNTEERS ARE BEING TRAINED BY REPRESENT                        ATIVE LEADERS, AT THE DIOCESE LEVEL.   WE KNOW IT IS A  PRO-
                  GRAM THAT WILL CONTINUE TO GROW.  I SHARE SOME PHOTOS.
               
                  THE INFANTS ARE WEIGHED; THEIR HEALTH AND VACCINATIONS ARE
                   MONITORED.  WOMEN LEADERS FROM THE COMMUNITIES ARE
                   TRAINED BY LEADERS OF PRIMER INFANCIA OF THE DIOCESE OF
                    SUCHITEPEQUEZ.  NEW BIRTHS OF BABIES ARE CELEBRATED WITH
                    PRAYER AND SMALL GIFTS.  THE LEADERS OF PRIMER INFANCIA OF
                   THE CLINICA MAXEÑA VISIT MONTHLY THESE FOUR COMMUNITIES. THE 
                   PROGRAM GROWS.  THANKS MAGDALÍ AND FELICITA FOR YOUR
                   LEADERSHIP, FAITH, AND SHARING.