Santa Cruz, El Paraiso

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

Overview

Santa Cruz is located within the municipality of El Paraiso in the department of El Paraiso in south eastern Honduras. Children in the community have access to a centro basico, which includes up to 9th grade. The community currently has a outdated water system that cannot meet the community’s needs. Most of the community members work in agriculture, and cattle raising. The top needs expressed by Santa Cruz’s inhabitants during their initial communications with Global Brigades are medical care and public health infrastructure.

Municipality: El Paraiso
Department: El Paraiso

Homes : 500
Population : 2,670
Water System : Yes
Community Bank : No
Electricity : Yes
Health Center : Yes
Community Health Workers : Yes
Homes with Latrines : 50%
Education : Up to 9th grade
Distance to Lodging Facility : N/A

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.

Communities Members in Santa Cruz are fortunate enough to have a health center in their community to address an immediate needs but must travel to the city of Tegucigalpa for more serious cases. As reported by community leaders, with Global Brigades initial communications with the community, the most common illnesses respiratory diseases, diabetes and hypertension.

373

Volunteers

9,507

Patient Consultations

567

Vision Screenings Provided

228

Health Education Workshops

COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS

Santa Cruz has 4 Community Health Workers These CHWs were trained as part of a larger group. During their training, community members have learned how to provide care for some chronic illnesses, as well as about other health topics such as first aid, caring for pregnancies, and first response in emergency situations. With these skills, the CHWs help relieve some of the patient load for the staff in the health center by teaching preventative health.

BRIGADE INFORMATION

Community members in Santa Cruz attend Medical and Dental Brigade clinics hosted in Santa Cruz’s school building. The various stations of the clinic are held in the school’s 8 classrooms. Doctors are able to spend an average of 10 minutes with each patient. Each day of the brigade, an average of 12 educational charlas are facilitated with the clinic’s patients. 

AVERAGE PATIENTS ATTENDED: 999
NEARBY COMMUNITIES:Las Jaguas, El Sellonn, and Rio Arriba

MEDICAL/DENTAL VOLUNTEERS IN SANTA CRUZ

Chapter Date # Of Volunteers Chapter Date # Of Volunteers
University of Pittsburgh Medical Brigade May 2017 37 University of Southern California Medical Brigade January 2012 31
Yale University Medical Brigade March 2013 60 California State University East Bay Medical Brigade September 2013 37
University of Arkansas Medical Brigade March 2014 31 Cape Breton University Medical Brigade August 2014 42
Explore Medical Brigade & University if the Pacific Medical Brigade August 2014 42 University of Southern California Medical Brigade March 2015 27
NYVT Nurses Unite Medical Brigade March 2016 35 Northern Arizona University Medical Brigade March 2016 35
University of Missouri Medical Brigade May 2019 29 Miami University of Ohio & Oklahoma State University Medical Brigade May 2023 28
Mount Allison University February 2024 16

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.

1,399

Patient Consultations

888

Number of Extractions

453

Fillings Performed

189

Dental Education Workshops

BRIGADE INFORMATION

Community members in Santa Cruz attend Medical and Dental Brigade clinics hosted in Santa Cruz’s school building. The various stations of the clinic are held in the school’s 8 classrooms. Doctors are able to spend an average of 10 minutes with each patient. Each day of the brigade, an average of 12 educational charlas are facilitated with the clinic’s patients. 

AVERAGE PATIENTS ATTENDED: 999
NEARBY COMMUNITIES:Las Jaguas, El Sellonn, and Rio Arriba

MEDICAL/DENTAL VOLUNTEERS IN SANTA CRUZ

Chapter Date # Of Volunteers Chapter Date # Of Volunteers
University of Pittsburgh Medical Brigade May 2017 37 University of Southern California Medical Brigade January 2012 31
Yale University Medical Brigade March 2013 60 California State University East Bay Medical Brigade September 2013 37
University of Arkansas Medical Brigade March 2014 31 Cape Breton University Medical Brigade August 2014 42
Explore Medical Brigade & University if the Pacific Medical Brigade August 2014 42 University of Southern California Medical Brigade March 2015 27
NYVT Nurses Unite Medical Brigade March 2016 35 Northern Arizona University Medical Brigade March 2016 35
University of Missouri Medical Brigade May 2019 29 Miami University of Ohio & Oklahoma State University Medical Brigade May 2023 28
Mount Allison University February 2024 16

Engineering

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in Santa Cruz 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 possible

Water System : Yes
Type of System : Gravity
Homes with Access to Water : 90%
Water Council : Yes

Water

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in Santa Cruz 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 : 90%
Water Council : Yes

Business

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in Santa Cruz 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
Community Bank Members : N/A
Economic Activities : Agriculture, Cattle Raising, Day Laborer
Existing Microenterprises : Corner Stores, Agricultural Stores, Home Goods Stores, Clothing Stores, Eateries

Public Health

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in Santa Cruz 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 : 50%
Homes with Eco-Stoves : 0%
Homes with Water Filters : 0%
Common House Materials : Adobe, Cement Blocks

Local Reference Points

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

  • Feature