Exciting things are happening for the indigenous people of the Yucatán. It all started in the small village of Huhí and now it is growing across the peninsula!

From all parts of Mexico’s Yucatán, village leaders are calling for A Promise of Health to come and bring healthcare to their people. It is an incredible response to an incredible need by the Maya people who are in dire need of healthcare.  In response, A Promise of Health has devised a plan to extend our services throughout rural Yucatán. It is called the Medicine Wheel Program.

The medicine wheel was sacred to Native Americans living on the Great Plains. To them the wheels were a place to go for spiritual renewal and prayer. To the Maya, our Medicine Wheels are an answer to their prayers to bring health to their people.

In each of our wheels is a cluster of villages and small towns that can locally be served by one doctor and assistant. The doctors live within the circle, becoming part of the communities they serve. Each wheel represents about 50,000 people. Our doctors ride circuit, going from village to village each week.

Annually it costs $26,000 for each Medicine Wheel.  Each wheel provides medical services to five or more municipalities. The municipalities pay $10,400 as their share from money they receive from state and federal funds. A Promise of Health pays the rest. In order to add a wheel, we must have enough money pledged for a one-year commitment.

In addition to the municipality’s share they also provide a location for the doctor to consult with patients.

Today, A Promise of Health has 4 doctors who work in 20 communities. We serve 158,000 people who live in rural communities in Yucatan. The majority of the people are Maya who live in extreme poverty. Since our founding, we have treated 41,000 patients (Nov. 2001 – June 2007)

Yet, we are far from done. In rural Yucatán live 953,000 people, most of whom are indigenous Maya. The average family earns less than $400 annually. According to government statistics these communities have very high rates of poverty. It is our goal to initiate 12 addition wheels in the next two years!

Click here to see how you can become a Medicine Wheel Sponsor!