Los Higueros

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

Overview

Los Higueros is located within the municipality of El Paraiso in the department of El Paraiso in central Honduras. Children in the community have access to primary school. There is a gravity water system that uses groundwater. Most of the community members work in agriculture. The top needs expressed by Los Higueros’ inhabitants during their initial communications with Global Brigades include a health center, kindergarden, and road maintenance.

Municipality: El Paraiso
Department: El Paraiso

Homes : 126
Population : 960
Water System : Yes
Community Bank : No
Electricity : Yes
Health Center : No
Community Health Workers : No
Homes with Latrines : 47%
Education : Up to 6th Grade
Distance from Lodging Facility : 72 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.

Community members of Los Higueros do not have access to a health center within the community, but must travel to Santa Cruz for healthcare attention. The most common illnesses seen in both children and adults are respiratory and skin problems.

389

Brigade Volunteers

6,779

Patient Consulations

569

Vision Screenings Provided

258

Health Education Workshops

COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS

The community of Los Higueros does not yet have Community Health Workers. Global Brigades Honduras’ Medical Program is working diligently to train volunteers as CHWs in its partner communities as part of the Holistic Model. Los Higueros 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 are identified by other organizations and some health centers, 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.

BRIGADE INFORMATION

Community members in Los Higueros attend Medical and Dental Brigade clinics hosted in Los Higueros’ school building. The various stations of the clinic are held in the school’s classrooms. Doctors are able to spend an average of ten minutes with each patient. Each day of the brigade, educational charlas are facilitated with the clinic’s patients.

AVERAGE PATIENTS ATTENDED: 536
NEARBY COMMUNITIES: El Cerro, Sillon, Casa Quemada, Santa Cruz

MEDICAL/DENTAL VOLUNTEERS IN LOS HIGUEROS

Chapter Date # Of Volunteers Chapter Date # Of Volunteers
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine Brandenton July 2012 22 Athletico April 2013 26
University of California Berkeley January 2014 32 University of California Los Angeles June 2014 51
College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University May 2016 38 Johns Hopkins University January 2017 23
New Hampshire Area May 2017 23 Central Michigan University March 2018 30
Bethel University & University of Hawaii Manoa June 2018 31 University of Tennessee Knoxville Medical Brigade & Kennesaw State University Medical Brigade December 2018 22
McMaster University Medical Brigade May 2019 32 Eastern Michigan University Medical Brigade & University of Tennessee Knoxville Medical Brigade December 2019 21
University of San Diego California Medical Brigade June 2023 17 Saint Louis University January 2024 21

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.

593

Patient Consultations

618

Number of Extraction

264

Fillings Performed

127

Dental Education Workshop

BRIGADE INFORMATION

Community members in Los Higueros attend Medical and Dental Brigade clinics hosted in Los Higueros’ school building. The various stations of the clinic are held in the school’s classrooms. Doctors are able to spend an average of ten minutes with each patient. Each day of the brigade, educational charlas are facilitated with the clinic’s patients.

AVERAGE PATIENTS ATTENDED: 536
NEARBY COMMUNITIES: El Cerro, Sillon, Casa Quemada, Santa Cruz

MEDICAL/DENTAL VOLUNTEERS IN LOS HIGUEROS

Chapter Date # Of Volunteers Chapter Date # Of Volunteers
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine Brandenton July 2012 22 Athletico April 2013 26
University of California Berkeley January 2014 32 University of California Los Angeles June 2014 51
College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University May 2016 38 Johns Hopkins University January 2017 23
New Hampshire Area May 2017 23 Central Michigan University March 2018 30
Bethel University & University of Hawaii Manoa June 2018 31 University of Tennessee Knoxville Medical Brigade & Kennesaw State University Medical Brigade December 2018 22
McMaster University Medical Brigade May 2019 32 Eastern Michigan University Medical Brigade & University of Tennessee Knoxville Medical Brigade December 2019 21
University of San Diego California Medical Brigade June 2023 17 Saint Louis University January 2024 21

Engineering

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in Los Higueros, but has not yet begun with the Engineering Program. Now in the planning phase, the evaluation of the community’s existing water system and design of any necessary improvements will start as soon as feasible.

Water System : Yes
Type of System : Gravity
Homes with Access to Water : N/A
Water Council : N/A

Water

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in los Higueros but has not yet begun with the Water Program. Now in the planning phase, the implementation of any improvements to the community’s existing water system will follow the Engineering Program’s assessment and start as soon as feasible.

Water System : Yes
Type of System : Gravity
Homes with Access to Water : N/A
Water Council : N/A

Business

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in Los Higueros but has not yet begun with the Business Program. Now in the planning phase, a community bank will be established as soon as feasible, followed by market studies and investment in an anchor business to provide additional capital.

Community Bank : No
Community Bank Members : N/A
Economic Activities : N/A
Existing Microenterprises : Corner stores

Public Health

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in Los Higueros 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 : N/A
Homes with Eco-Stoves : N/A
Homes with Water FIlters : N/A
Common House Materials : N/A

Local Reference Points

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

  • Feature