Amputation Averted: Guatemalan's Fight for Healthcare Highlights System Failures

In Tiquisate, Guatemala, a man's harrowing experience at the Instituto Guatemalteco de Seguridad Social (IGSS) hospital has brought attention to concerns about the quality of healthcare in the region. Don Antonio, a 45-year-old father of six, was involved in a motorcycle accident on June 9, 2023. At the IGSS emergency room, he was told he needed a leg amputation. "They only cleaned my wound with disinfectant," said Don Antonio. Instead of accepting the amputation, Don Antonio sought alternative care, and after two years of treatment, he is now walking. His story underscores the need for improved healthcare access and quality in rural Guatemala. The congressman who interviewed him is working to address the issues raised.