The Centro de Investigación de Enfermedades Tropicales (CIET) at the Autonomous University of Guerrero in Acapulco, Guerrero, was founded in 1985 and has trained over 600 planners and researchers from 58 countries, and many more Mexican health workers and officials, through an array of courses. Training usually involves extensive field work in urban and rural communities, from the sprawling barrios of Acapulco to remote indigenous villages in the mountains.

Over the years, CIET has worked in the Costa Chica region of Guerrero in close partnership with indigenous people who are among the most disadvantaged rural populations in Mexico. We have helped these communities carry out action-oriented research and planning on critical health issues such as child diarrhoea, parasites, scorpion sting and safe motherhood.

In Xochistlahuaca, a remote municipality with majority Nancue Ñomndaa (Amuzgo) population we have trained and supported indigenous health promoters who have become a valuable and respected community health resource for the region. We are currently working with them to improve maternal and perinatal health without destroying traditional childbirth-related roles and culture. Our work with indigenous population in Guerrero over the last 25 years includes:

• Acute respiratory infections in under-fives, 1986
• Community Dermatology, 1990-1995
• Diarrhea in Children under Three Years Old,1989
• Domestic violence against pregnant women in Ometepec, Guerrero, 2001
• Indigenous newborns surviving in cultural safety, 2007-2010
• Malaria and Dengue, 1988-present
• Measles, 1989-1990
• Micro Regional Planning, 1992-1995
• Research and capacity building on tuberculosis in Guerrero, 1987-present
• Safe Childbirth, 1995-1996
• Scorpion Sting, 1987