Home > About Hesperian > >History of Hesperian
History of Hesperian
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, a group of health activists in Ajoya, Mexico compiled a notebook of treatment
information for common medical problems in their village. The notebook came into great demand not only in Ajoya, but
also among health workers from neighboring communities. In 1973, the notebook was reproduced as a comprehensive and revolutionary
health-care manual titled Donde no hay doctor (Where there is no doctor).
Around this time, an organization was founded in California
to distribute the book and begin work on an English version. Where there is no doctor was first published in 1977 and is now considered
by many to be the "bible" of primary health care for community health workers and villagers in poor countries around the world.