Guatemalan Health Experts & Indigenous Maya Youth buzz into Toronto for a Health & Rights Policy Session
The 2019 Guatemala-to-Canada Knowledge Exchange delegation from left to right: Juan Eduardo Lux Tzoy, Viriginia Yojana del Transito Tacam Ramos, Mishell Escot Briones, Iris Champet Gamez De Lopez, Alba Saturnina Acabal Zarate de Quiej, Juliana Teresa Caniz Tzoc de Rosales, Dr.Martina Del Rosario Ajpacaja Castro, and Monica del Rosario Ramos Figueroa
TORONTO, ON, OCTOBER 23, 2019 – Horizons of Friendship [Horizons] invites non-profit and policy professionals, global and community health practitioners, and youth-focused groups to a dynamic breakout session to be held from 6:00pm to 7:30pm on Friday November 01 at the Centre for Social Innovation (192 Spadina Avenue) in Toronto. This ‘working-beehive’ event will feature the expertise of Indigenous Maya K’iche’ and Guatemalan champions for women, children, and adolescent health and provide an energetic platform to spark a conversation between the North and South.
Founded in 1973, Horizons is a Canadian international development organization committed to eliminating poverty and injustice in Central America and Mexico. Horizons partners with grassroots organizations in Mesoamerica that identify real issues in their communities. Through trusted partnerships, Horizons and its local partners are able to achieve significant changes in marginalized communities on issues such as health, migration, climate action, and violence against women.
The Guatemalan delegation is part of Horizons’ $13.2 million Maternal, Newborn, and Child-Health (MNCH) project, which aims to reduce maternal and infant mortality in the province of Totonicapán, Guatemala. This Government of Canada-funded project is in the final stages of its execution and has made significant strides to improve the health and rights of the Indigenous Maya K’iche’ peoples of Totonicapán.
This dynamic policy breakout session will feature the following guests:
Dr. Martina del Rosario Ajpacaja Castro, the Health Services Manager for the Totonicapán, Health Directorate, where she manages the operations of all primary and secondary health posts and centres in the province,
Ingrid Mishell Escot Briones, the current Financial Officer for the MNCH project, with years of experience as an accountant, auditor, and administrator in Guatemala’s health sector,
Virginia Yojana del Transito Tacam Ramos, a young Indigenous Maya K’iche’ leader that helps reach youth on issues of sexual and reproductive health and rights,
Dr. Iris Adaly Champet Gámez, Indigenous Maya K’iche’ doctor and surgeon and the current MNCH project coordinator with local partner PIES de Occidente,
Juliana Teresa Caniz Tzoc de Rosales a traditional Indigenous Maya K’iche’ midwife and Spiritual Guide from Nimasac, Totonicapán,
Juan Eduardo Lux Tzoy, a young Maya K’iche’ leader and a strong advocate of the importance of family planning for Maya K’iche’ youth, and
Alba Saturnina Acabal Zarate, a traditional Indigenous Maya K’iche’ midwife from Totonicapán’s Momostenango district.
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For media or other inquiries, please contact:
Daniel Quesada, Community Outreach Officer, dquesada@horizons.ca or 905-372-5483 ext. 20
This program is undertaken with the financial support of the Government of Canada through Global Affairs Canada.
