Hesperian Health Guides

Over 40 years ago in the mountains of Mexico, the classic book, "Where There Is No Doctor", was conceived to provide health information to people with limited or no access to healthcare. Now considered the gold-standard of health information books globally, its publisher Hesperian Health Guides distributes over 40 titles that provide lifesaving and transformative health information on topics ranging from women's health and safety to environmental and occupational health. Our books are translated into 84 languages and are used in 221 countries. We work with hundreds of partners who help us update and field test materials to ensure they are accurate and easy-to-use. Additionally, our information is available for free through our digital platform called the HealthWiki. As the world becomes more connected, people can now access our crucial health information from their mobile devices in their own languages. Through donations, we are currently able to add more and more content in more and more languages onto the HealthWiki. Our resources are used by community health workers, midwives, Peace Corps volunteers, missionaries, teachers, health educators and community organizers to improve health around the world. Hundreds of government agencies and nonprofit organizations rely on Hesperian Health Guides to provide practical and comprehensive information that moves communities to take action on a wide range of health issues – from disability rights to women's health, from protecting local ecosystems to training the next generation of health workers. Additionally, Hesperian receives requests worldwide from people who desperately need our books, but cannot afford to pay for them, especially with the very high cost of shipping. Through donations, we are able to send boxes of books to remote villages and we often receive letters back telling us how our books have saved lives. We accomplish all our work with a paid staff of 20 and an ever-increasing number of volunteers, currently at over 1,200 worldwide. Hesperian is a 501(c)3 nonprofit and is supported by the generous gifts of individual and institutional donors, as well as revenue streams from the sale of books, resources, and digital tools.