Las Marias

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

Overview

Las Marias is located within the municipality of Langue in the department of Valle in southern Honduras. The typical house is made of adobe, cement blocks and bricks, plastic, and mud. Children in the community have access up to 9th grade. Las Marias has an existing water system that was constructed in 2002 and is in need of improvement due to its lack to provide water to the whole community. At the moment, the system only provides access to 24% of the community’s households. Most of the community members work in agriculture and cattle raising. The top needs expressed by Las Marias‘ inhabitants during their initial communications with Global Brigades are improvement of the water system, access to healthcare, and the establishment of a community bank.

Municipality: Langue
Department: Valle

Homes : 205
Population : 886
Water System : Yes
Community Bank : No
Electricity : Yes
Health Center : Yes
Community Health Workers : No
% of Homes with Latrines : 20%
Education : Up to 9th grade
Distance from Lodging Facility : 40 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 not available in these health centers 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.

Las Marias has access to a health care centre located right in their community. It is not always adequately staffed nor does it always have adequate medications in stock. The most common illnesses children face are the common cold, anaemia, and respiratory issues. The most common illnesses seen in adults are hypertension, epilepsy, and diabetes.

COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS

Las Marias currently has access to 1 Community Health Worker (CHWs). However, these CHWs were not trained by Global Brigades. Our Medical Program is actively working to assess the current CHWs’ knowledge, recruit additional volunteers, and provide supplemental training and certification.

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 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.

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

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in Las Marias and is currently assessing the existing water system to begin the design of necessary improvements. Las Marias’ water system is a well whose water source is groundwater and is extracted with a pump. This system constructed in 2002 only provides water to 24% of the community, leaving more than 150 households without it. 

Water System : Yes
Type of System : Well
% of Homes with Access to Water : 24%
Water Council : Yes

Water

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in Las Marias 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 : Well
% of Homes with Access to Water : 24%
Water Council : Yes

Business

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in Las Marias 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 : No
Economic Activities : Agriculture, cattle raising
Existing Microenterprises : 2 convenience stores

Public Health

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in Las Marias 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 : 40
Homes with Eco-Stoves : 14
Homes with Water FIlters : 50
Common House Materials : adobe, cement blocks and bricks, mud

Local Reference Points

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

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