Health & Help Opens New Medical Clinic in Guatemala to Serve Isolated Communities

Health & Help, an international humanitarian nonprofit organization dedicated to providing healthcare in underserved regions of Central America, has officially launched operations at its third clinic in Guatemala. The new facility, located in El Pojom, Huehuetenango, represents a significant step in the organization’s mission to ensure that geographic isolation and poverty do not prevent people from accessing medical care.

Founded in 2015, Health & Help focuses on delivering community-based healthcare services in remote areas where access to medical infrastructure remains limited or nonexistent.

From a Grassroots Initiative to a Regional Healthcare Network

Health & Help was established by infectious disease physician Viktoriia Valikova, originally from Ufa, Russia, with the goal of bringing healthcare services to communities often overlooked by traditional healthcare systems.

The organization’s first clinic was built in Chuinajtajuyup, Totonicapán, Guatemala, through crowdfunding efforts and support from volunteers and local residents. Construction was completed in 2017.

In 2019, Health & Help began developing a second clinic in La Salvia, located in Nicaragua’s Gulf of Fonseca region. While the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the project, the clinic officially opened in 2021.

The opening of the El Pojom clinic marks the organization’s third healthcare facility and further expands its presence across Central America.

Operating independently and without political affiliation, Health & Help is registered as a nonprofit organization in Guatemala, Nicaragua, and the United States. Its activities are primarily funded through individual donations and grassroots fundraising campaigns.

Serving More Than 35,000 People in Underserved Communities

Today, Health & Help provides healthcare services to communities with a combined population exceeding 35,000 people living in regions affected by poverty, geographic isolation, and limited healthcare infrastructure.

Since its creation, the organization has treated more than 38,275 patients. In 2025 alone, its clinics provided care to 4,855 individuals.

The nonprofit conducts approximately 2,000 to 3,000 medical consultations each year through the combined efforts of local healthcare professionals and international volunteers from more than 35 countries.

Its healthcare model includes primary care, preventive medicine, maternal healthcare, treatment for chronic diseases, support for malnourished children, health education initiatives, and mobile outreach programs. Patients also have access to affordable medications and basic laboratory services.

A core principle of the organization is ensuring that financial hardship does not prevent people from receiving treatment.

“If a patient cannot afford treatment, we still provide care and medications whenever possible,” the organization stated. “Healthcare should never depend solely on income or geography.”

El Pojom Clinic Addresses Critical Healthcare Needs

The newly opened clinic in El Pojom is one of Health & Help’s largest and most ambitious projects to date.

The facility was formally transferred to the organization in November 2025 and underwent several months of rehabilitation and operational preparation before beginning full operations on April 1, 2026.

El Pojom is home to approximately 10,000 residents and faces significant socioeconomic challenges. Many households lack access to electricity, while transportation infrastructure remains limited, making access to healthcare particularly difficult.

In this context, the clinic has become an essential source of medical care for local communities, providing services that are otherwise difficult or impossible to access.

A Women-Led Organization Focused on Community Care

Health & Help describes itself as a women-led humanitarian organization that prioritizes empathy, resilience, and community-centered leadership.

“We envision a world where no one is left without care because of isolation or poverty,” the organization said in its vision statement. “A world where access to basic healthcare is the norm, and communities are supported with compassion, respect, and continuity of care.”

The impact of the organization’s work can be seen through patient experiences. One diabetes patient in Guatemala highlighted the importance of affordable insulin access through the clinic.

“I am diabetic and need to take medicine every day,” the patient said. “Drugs are extremely expensive, and many people can’t afford them. I can’t imagine what would have happened to me if it wasn’t for Health & Help.”

According to the patient, the clinic not only provided diagnostic testing and medical guidance but also offered insulin at a significantly lower cost than local pharmacies.

Volunteers from Around the World Support the Mission

International volunteers remain a key part of Health & Help’s operations.

Raquela Rubia, a volunteer nurse from the United States who worked at clinics in both Guatemala and Nicaragua, described the experience as transformative.

“I held the hands of pregnant women, victims of violence, and patients with chronic diseases,” she said. “Sometimes I was not only a nurse, but also a pharmacist, secretary, extra pair of hands, or simply someone people could talk to.”

As Health & Help continues expanding its healthcare programs, the organization is seeking media partnerships, interviews, and collaborative initiatives to raise awareness about healthcare inequality in isolated communities. It is also actively recruiting both medical and non-medical volunteers from around the world to support its operations in Central America.