Caserío Montecristo

  • Overview
  • Medical
  • Dental

Overview

Caserío Montecristo is located in central Guatemala. The houses in the community are often made of adobe, cement blocks, and bricks. Most of the community members work in agriculture, arts and other skilled labour activities. The children have access to primary education but they have to travel to the nearest city if they want to continue their secondary education. Caserio Montecristo doesn’t have a water system yet but the community is working with the municipality of Chimaltenango to build one. During initial communications with Global Brigades, community leaders expressed that their top three needs were Medical and Dental Brigades, access to education, and a water system infrastructure.

Municipality: Chimaltenango

Department: Chimaltenango

Homes : 60
Population : 300
Water System : Not Started
Community Bank : Not Started
Electricity : Yes
Health Center : No
Community Health Workers : Not Started
Distance from Lodging Facility : 10 KM
Education : Up to primary school

Medical

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

HEALTH CARE ACCESS:

Over 90% of the population in the municipality are part of Mayan indigenous groups. Public health care in Guatemala falls under the responsibility of the Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare (MSPAS) which has 2,200 service units across the country.  Even with this coverage, it is important to note that medications, supplies, and materials are often not available. Health worker density in rural communities is 3.0 per 10,000 persons as opposed to 25.7 to 10,000 in urban areas of Guatemala. There are major gaps in health care services between rural indigenous and urban populations in Guatemala.

Community members in Caserio Montecristo don’t have access to a health post or Community Centre where they can get basic medical aid. The community members of Caserio Montecristo rely on the Medical Brigades, and when they can, they travel to a nearby community with a Health Centre in case of an emergency. During initial communications with Global Brigades, community leaders shared that the most common illnesses were fever, cough, and stomachache.

23

Total number of volunteers

282

Patient Consultations

23

Health Education Workshops

BRIGADE INFORMATION:

Medical Brigades use the local school as their brigade site. The school has 5 rooms, where the various medical stations are conducted. Other people from communities nearby like Aldea San Marcos might also attend Caserio Montecristo to join the medical brigades.

AVERAGE PATIENTS ATTENDED: +300,000

NEARBY COMMUNITIES: Aldea San Marcos

BRIGADE SITE: Community School

MEDICAL VOLUNTEERS IN CASERIO MONTECRISTO:

Chapter Date # Of Volunteers
Jefferson University Medical March 2022 23

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 dentists within a reasonable distance.

70

Patient Consultations

119

Number of Extractions

BRIGADE INFORMATION:

Dental Brigades use the local school as their brigade site as well. The school has 5 rooms, where the various medical stations are conducted. Other people from communities nearby like Aldea San Marcos might also attend Caserio Montecristo to join the medical brigades.

AVERAGE PATIENTS ATTENDED: +300,000

NEARBY COMMUNITIES: Aldea San Marcos

BRIGADE SITE: Community School

DENTAL VOLUNTEERS IN CASERIO MONTECRISTO:

Chapter Date # Of Volunteers
Jefferson University Medical March 2022 23

Local Reference Points

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

  • Feature