Chiquimula, Guatemala, October 15, 2026 (PAHO) — The community health center in La Majada, Chiquimula, has received improvements to its water and sanitation systems as part of a humanitarian health response implemented by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), with funding from the Guatemala Humanitarian Fund and in coordination with the Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance (MSPAS).
The improvements include a rainwater harvesting system with an elevated storage tank, handwashing sinks in consultation rooms, restrooms for patients and staff, and an outdoor utility sink. A septic tank and soakaway pit were also installed, along with upgrades to windows and doors.
Reliable access to water is essential for hygiene and infection prevention and control at the facility. The new sinks allow health workers to wash their hands during patient care and clean medical instruments on-site before they are sent for sterilization, rather than having to transport them to another health center for cleaning.
Before the improvements, the lack of running water made handwashing and restroom use difficult. “Sometimes patients would ask to use the restroom, and we had to tell them, with embarrassment, that there was no water,” said Ivania Marroquín, a nursing assistant at the community health center. She explained that staff sometimes had to purchase bags of water to carry out their work.
Julio Corado, a national consultant with PAHO, explained that the improvements are part of a broader project to repair water and sanitation systems at 33 health facilities across Guatemala.
The community faces ongoing water supply challenges, with water typically available only every two or three days, according to Kenia Mayra, municipal health coordinator for the San Jacinto district. The new storage tank will help ensure that water is available for the facility’s daily operations.
Patients can now use the restrooms during their visits, improving comfort and dignity while receiving care. The community health center also provides HIV, hepatitis, and pregnancy testing. “Now we have water and handwashing sinks inside the consultation rooms. We can tell patients that they can use the restrooms. That makes us very happy,” Marroquín said. The installation of sliding windows and metal security grilles has also improved ventilation and security at the facility.
