Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
AIDS is a growing concern in Guatemala, particularly because of the wide-spread use of
prostitutes in a society ruled by
machismo
. Certainly not making things any better is the
economic need of infected prostitutes who continue working after being infected. If you
plan on sleeping with a stranger or friend met in your travels, be sure to use a condom,
available almost anywhere and known as
preservativos
or
condones.
Doctors and Hospitals
Medical services in Guatemala City are generally top-notch, particularly in many private
hospitals. Outside the capital, there are several private hospitals providing quality medical
careinurbanareas.PublicfacilitiessuchastheInstitutoGuatemaltecodeSeguridadSocial
(IGSS) should be avoided, as they are set up to cater to low-income people with no oth-
er alternative and are notoriously understaffed and underfunded. Rural areas are extremely
lacking in health care, which has resulted in the presence of Cuban doctors in parts of the
highlands who have arrived to help bridge the health-care gap. Asistur can help you find
excellent English-speaking doctors for those under its coverage.
Pharmacies
In many cases pharmacists sometimes serve as de facto doctors, as prescriptions are not
necessary for medications in Guatemala. Patients will often describe symptoms and take
something on the pharmacist's recommendations. Still, it's always best to see a doctor.
Many drugs can be found more cheaply in Guatemala, as they are produced locally by a
handful of pharmaceutical companies.
In almost every town, at least one pharmacy will be open all night thanks to a system
known as
farmacia de turno
(on-call pharmacy), in which the local pharmacies stay open
on a rotating basis. Local newspapers publish a listing of these pharmacies and sometimes
the outlets themselves have a neon sign stating as such.
Crime
Crime has been a problem throughout Guatemala in the aftermath of the civil war, though
statistics showmost foreign travelers enjoy their visit to the country without any problems.
As many veteran travelers to Guatemala like to point out, you're still safer here than in
many large U.S. cities.
Among Guatemala's urban areas, Guatemala City has by far the greatest prevalence of
crime. Much of this consisted of groups perpetrating robberies against arriving passen-