Argentina, a 59-year-old woman in Guatemala, didn’t think she would find relief from her pain.

“I initially told the nurse not to treat me because I am not able to pay for the medicine anyway,” she said.  

Nearly 60 percent of people in Guatemala live below the poverty line, and with very little government funding spent on health care, medical treatment and medicine are often inaccessible. As a result, many people resort to homemade remedies or take medication that has been prescribed to someone else.

When Argentina heard that she could receive medicine free of charge from Order of Malta, she visited the clinic immediately. Doctors gave her a prescription for potassium chloride, a medication that treats low levels of potassium in the blood.

When she returned for her follow-up appointment, she said the medication had been a “santo remedio” ­—a holy remedy—for her symptoms.

Argentina’s prescription was one of 25,000 bottles of medication that Order of Malta had received through a container shipment from Brother’s Brother Foundation. The 40-foot container left BBF’s warehouse in May and contained medications used to treat a variety of health conditions, including high cholesterol, rheumatoid arthritis, gastroesophageal reflux disease, bacterial infections, and inflammation. Exam gloves, surgical instruments, and other medical supplies were also in the shipment.

BBF’s partner, Food for the Poor (FFTP) helped deliver and distribute the pharmaceuticals and supplies to Order of the Malta, allowing Argentina and others to receive their medications for free.

“Through your donation, we have been able to provide much-needed medicine and improve the quality of life of countless people. You truly make a difference, and we are extremely grateful,” said FFTP’s in-country partner representative, Byron Paredes.