On February 18, Cabrini Guatemala officially presented the children’s book “No Virus Can Resist Good Habits,” an educational initiative that responds to one of today’s most pressing health challenges: the misuse of antibiotics and the growing problem of antimicrobial resistance.

This project was born from the commitment of a team of healthcare professionals, including a pediatrician from San José Dispensary – Dr. Cesar Anleu and Dr. Piera Ceschi, a veterinarian, in collaboration with international professionals from the Master’s Program in Global Health.

Inspired by the realities faced daily by the families served in our dispensaries, they chose to address this issue in a simple and approachable way—by educating children.

The book uses accessible language and friendly illustrations to teach essential habits such as proper handwashing, avoiding self-medication, and the responsible use of medicines. In this way, it promotes awareness from an early age and helps build a culture of prevention within the community.

The authors emphasized the importance of health literacy and educating children on these issues, focusing on children’s ability to understand and, even more importantly, to be part of the solutions in the future.

The event brought together partner institutions and representatives from national entities such as the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Agriculture, along with professionals committed to promoting public health. It was a meaningful space for dialogue, collaboration, and shared commitment to the common good.

Children from our programs played a special role during the presentation, reading from the book and sharing short messages of gratitude. Their participation reflected the concrete impact of this initiative and reminded all present that education is a seed of hope.

This effort reflects the charism of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, who taught us to respond with creativity and courage to the needs of our time. Today, that mission continues through actions that protect life, strengthen families, and foster informed and responsible communities.

The book is distributed free of charge and may not be sold and is intended to contribute to efforts to combat this global health problem. It is written in English and translated into European and Latin American Spanish, Italian and German. The Missionary Sisters have a digital version available to share with those who are interested, especially, Cabrinian institutions around the world.

At Cabrini Guatemala, we reaffirm our commitment to integral health and education as tools for social transformation. We believe that forming good habits today is caring for the future of the next generations.