La Jagua

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

Overview

La Jagua is located within the municipality of Alauca in the department of El Paraiso in South Honduras. Community members of La Jagua work in agriculture, cattle raising, and skilled labour; their houses are often made of adobe and wood. Children in the community have access to primary school but they have to walk to other communities to continue their higher education. The top needs expressed by La Jagua‘s inhabitants during their initial communications with Global Brigades are building a water system, access to electricity, and improving the education in the community by building schools. 

Municipality: Alauca
Department: El Paraiso

Homes : 43
Population : 170
Water System : No
Community Bank : Not Started
Electricity : No
Health Center : Yes
Community Health Workers : Not Started
Homes with Latrines : 43
Education : Up to primary school
Distance from Lodging Facility : 90 KM

Medical

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

HEALTH CARE ACCESS

The Honduran government provides two different types of health centers 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 unavailable in these health centres. The physician density in Honduras remains around 1,220 people for every 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.

La Jagua does not have a health care centre located specifically in the community and that’s why community members need to travel to the nearest one located kilometres 7 KM away. Whenever they visit the healthcare center, it is not always adequately staffed nor does it always have adequate medications in stock. The most common illnesses children face are fever and common cold. The most common illnesses seen in adults is the common cold. La Jagua has not started with the CHW program but it will begin as soon as feasible.

Distance from Nearest Health Center : 7 KM
Community Health Workers : Not Started
Common Illnesses in Children : Fever and common colds
Common Illnesses in Adults : Common colds

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

LA JAGUA’S ENGINEERING CHALLENGE:

Currently, the community of La Jagua doesn’t have a water system. The community members have a water storage unit also known as “pila” where they collect and store rainwater when they can. The community also has a well but community members have to pay a fee if they want to acquire water from it.

20

Volunteers

10

Km of pipeline designed

172

Beneficiaries

LA JAGUA’S ENGINEERING SOLUTION:

The optimal solution to provide this community access to water would be to design and construct a water system that contains a water storage tank of 10,000 gallons and install approximately 5 kilometres of adequate piping. This will ensure the correct water distribution and coverage across the community.

ENGINEERING VOLUNTEERS IN LA JAGUA

Chapter Date # Of Volunteers
University of Florida  & McGill University May 2022 20

Water

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in La Jagua 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 : No
Type of System : None
% Homes with Access to Water : 0%
Water Council : Yes
Number of Members : 7

Business

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

The Global Brigades Business and Microfinance Team will be working with La Jaguas’ community bank soon. Global Brigades is currently overseeing the possibility of training the executive board members to ensure that the already stablished bank is sustainability and has access to future external loans. This will encourage the opening of savings accounts and growth of seed capital.

 

Community Bank : Not Started
Community Bank Members : N/A
Economic Activities : Agriculture, cattle raising, and skilled labour
Existing Microenterprises : Mini markets

Public Health

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

LA JAGUA’S PUBLIC HEALTH  CHALLENGE:

Many community members in La Jagua lack the resources to make improvements to their household infrastructure. The majority of the 350 homes in La Jagua are made of adobe and wood. Hygiene stations, which include showers and water storage units, are necessary to facilitate handwashing, allow water storage for hygienic processes, and offer privacy while bathing. Additionally, eco-stoves evacuate smoke from the living space and decrease the risk of respiratory illnesses, and latrines improve hygiene practices and prevent contamination of natural water sources caused by open defecation. By partnering with Global Brigades’ Public Health Program, La Jagua‘s inhabitants are hoping to avoid preventable diseases and adopt proper hygiene and sanitation practices.

% Homes with Latrines : 100%
% Homes with Eco-Stoves : 5%
% Homes with Water FIlters : 5%
% Homes with concrete floors : 91%
Common House Materials : Adobe and wood

Local Reference Points

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

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