El Ocotillo de Linaca

  • Overview
  • Medical
  • Dental
  • Engineering
  • Water
  • Business
  • Public Health

Overview

El Ocotillo de Linaca is located within the municipality of Linaca in the department of Choluteca in southern Honduras. The typical house is made of adobe, wood, and cement. Children in the community have access to primary and secondary education. The municipality of El Ocotillo de Linaca built a water system that provides access to clean water to the whole community but this water system needs improvements. They only have access to a series of wells distributed around the community. Most community members work in agriculture, arts and crafts, and animal raising. The top needs expressed by El Ocotillo de Linaca‘s inhabitants during their initial communications with Global Brigades are medical attention, water tank system construction, and power lines construction.

Municipality: Linaca
Department: Choluteca

Homes : 63
Population : 438
Water System : Not Started
Community Bank : Not Started
Electricity : Yes
Health Center : No
Community Health Workers : Not Started
Homes with Latrines : 100%
Education : Primary School
Distance from Lodging Facility : 32 km

Medical

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

HEALTH CARE ACCESS

The Honduran government provides two different types of health centres throughout rural Honduras: Centros de Salud Médico Odontológico (CESAMOs) and Centros de Salud Rural (CESARs). CESAMOs are the larger of the two, often found in municipalities, and typically have at least one physician on staff at all times with nurses and potentially a dentist. CESARs are found sporadically in rural communities and generally have a single nurse available. Even with this coverage, it is important to note that medications, supplies, and materials are often not available in these health centres and the physician density in Honduras remains around 1,220 people for every one doctor. According to the World Health Organization, there should be a maximum of 435 people per physician to qualify a country as having adequate access to medical attention.

El Ocotillo de Linaca doesn’t have a community health care centre in their community but they have access to Hatillo de Linaca’s community health centre where they can get medical attention. The most common illnesses children face are the common cold, diarrhoea, and ear infections. The most common illnesses seen in adults are diarrhoea, high blood pressure, and pharyngotonsillitis.

COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS

The community of El Ocotillo de Linaca doesn’t have Community Health Workers yet. Global Brigades Honduras’ Medical Program is working diligently to train volunteers as CHWs in its partner communities as part of the Holistic Model. El Ocotillo de Linaca will receive training as soon as possible to further support the health of its community members.

Community Health Workers, or Guardianes de Salud, work on a volunteer basis as advocates for health care within their communities. While this is an existing program in Honduras and Guardianes de Salud is identified by other organizations and some health centres, Global Brigades is able to bridge gaps in access to training and provide more comprehensive technical skills. Our CHWs are some of the very few Guardianes de Salud to receive certification from the Honduran government. Our CHWs are tasked with treating and preventing common illnesses, and some of their responsibilities include first aid, supporting and caring for pregnancies and newborns, and responding to emergency situations.

They are also responsible for following up with chronic patients to ensure the proper administration of medications and treatments to avoid further complications. Additionally, CHWs provide support for brigades that are hosted in their area. At the completion of their training, CHWs are equipped with basic medical supplies and equipment provided by Global Brigades and its partners. The presence of these volunteers and their advocacy for health within their community contributes to the sustainability of health care supported by Global Brigades’ Medical Program and is one of the most impactful disease prevention strategies in rural communities across the globe.

BRIGADE INFORMATION:

El Ocotillo de Linaca is currently not a Brigade site, therefore, community members attend to the community of Hatillo de Linaca to access medical brigades alongside other nearby communities. 

AVERAGE PATIENTS ATTENDED: N/A

NEARBY COMMUNITIES: Las Pozas, El Aguacate, El Ojustal

BRIGADE SITE: N/A

MEDICAL VOLUNTEERS IN EL OCOTILLO DE LINACA:

Chapter Date # Of Volunteers Chapter Date # Of Volunteers

Dental

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

DENTAL CARE ACCESS

Working closely with the Medical Program, the Dental Program provides fillings, extractions, and fluoride treatments as a standard part of Medical Brigades. Most community members do not have regular access to dental care due to the lack of a dentist within a reasonable distance.

Engineering

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

EL OCOTILLO DE LINACA’S ENGINEERING CHALLENGE:

Currently, the community of El Ocotillo de Linaca has a water tank and pump which provides water to most community members however needs improvement. Now in the planning phase, the Engineering Program will begin planning a new water system or any necessary assessment of the already existing infrastructure following the Engineering Program’s evaluation and recommendations.

305

Beneficiaries

5

Kilometers of pipeline designed

EL OCOTILLO DE LINACA’S ENGINEERING SOLUTION:

El Ocotillo de Linacas’ water system design was completed in January 2024. The optimal solution to provide this community access to water was to design and construct a water system that contains a water storage tank of 10,000 gallons and install approximately 10 kilometers of adequate piping. This will ensure the correct water distribution and coverage across the community.

Water System : Yes
Type of System : Water tank and pump
Homes with Access to Water : 75%
Water Council : Yes

ENGINEERING VOLUNTEERS IN ESTACONES

Chapter Date # Of Volunteers Chapter Date # Of Volunteers
Pleasanton USD School August 2023 5

Water

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in El Ocotillo de Linaca but has not yet begun with the Water Program. Now in the planning phase, the Water Program will begin implementing a new water system or any necessary repairs to existing infrastructure following the Engineering Program’s evaluation and recommendations.

Water System : Yes
Type of System : Water tank and pump
Homes with Access to Water : 75%
Water Council : Yes

Business

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in El Ocotillo de Linaca but has not yet begun with the Business Program. Now in the planning phase, a community bank will be established as soon as feasible.

 

Community Bank : Not Started
Community Bank Members : N/A
Economic Activities : Agriculture and arts and crafts
Existing Microenterprises : Convenience stores

Public Health

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in El Ocotillo de Linaca but has not yet begun with the Public Health Program. Now in the planning phase, the financing, delivery, and installation of household health infrastructure products will start as soon as feasible.

Homes with Latrines : 100%
Homes with Eco-Stoves : 0%
Homes with Water Filters : 0%
Common House Materials : Adobe, wood

Local Reference Points

View the map to see the closest volunteer lodging facilities, hospitals, and other relevant points of reference.

  • Feature