Yamaguare

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

Overview

Yamaguare is located within the municipality of Cantarranas in the department of Francisco Morazan in central Honduras. The community members of Yamaguare work in agriculture, cattle rising, and other skilled labour activities and their typical house is made of adobe, cement blocks and bricks. Children in the community have access to primary education but they need to travel to the nearest city to continue with secondary and tertiary education. When Global Brigades visited Yamaguare, the top needs expressed by the inhabitants during this initial communication were building a community centre, a water project, and building a school wall.

Municipality: Cantarranas
Department: Francisco Morazan

Homes : 69
Population : 222
Water System : Not Started
Community Bank : Not Started
Electricity : Yes
Health Center : No
Community Health Workers : Yes
Homes with Latrines : 69%
Education : Up to primary school
Distance from Lodging Facility : 30 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 centres and the physician density in Honduras remains at 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.

Yamaguare does not have a health care centre located in their community and community members need to travel to the nearest one located 4 kilometres away in El Zarzal. Whenever they visit the healthcare centre, it’s not always adequately staffed nor does it always have adequate medications in stock. The most common illnesses children face are the flu, diarrhoea, and vomit. The most common illnesses seen in adults are hypertension and diabetes.

48

Number of volunteers

347

Patient Consultations

154

Vision Screenings

28

Health Education Workshops

COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS

Yamaguare has access to a total of 4 Community Health Workers (CHWs). These CHWs were trained in the community of El Zarzal and currently provide their services to community members of Yamaguare. 

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 and are tasked with treating and preventing common illnesses, some of their responsibilities include first aid, supporting and caring for pregnancies and newborns, and responding to emergencies. 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.

MEDICAL VOLUNTEERS IN YAMAGUARE

Chapter Date # Of Volunteers Chapter Date # Of Volunteers
Texas A&M University August 2024 18 Pennsylvania State University March 2023 17
Eli Lilly Connecting Hearts Abroad November 2023 13

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.

108

Dental consultations

120

Extractions

6

Dental Education Workshops

DENTAL VOLUNTEERS IN YAMAGUARE

Chapter Date # Of Volunteers Chapter Date # Of Volunteers
Texas A&M University August 2024 18 Pennsylvania State University March 2023 17
Eli Lilly Connecting Hearts Abroad November 2023 13

Engineering

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

YAMAGUARE’S ENGINEERING CHALLENGE:

Yamaguare has a water project that was built by the government with the help of the community members in 2018. The water tank with a pump connects to 62% of the houses in the community. Even though it was recently built, the community members expressed it needs improvements. Community members also have a water fee, they pay L.40 a month. Global Brigades’ Engineering and Water Team conducted a system assessment in order to provide recommendations to the current water council.

11

Volunteers

320

Beneficiaries

7.3

Kilometers of pipeline designed

8

Average community volunteers

Water System : Yes
Type of System : Water tank with pump
Homes with Access to Water : 62%
Water Council : Yes

YAMAGUARE’S ENGINEERING SOLUTION

Engineering Brigaders and Global Brigades Staff will train community members on the importance of treating all drinking water in addition to other hygiene and sanitation topics. Additionally, the brigades will help the community to improve the water system in Yamaguare so they guarantee clean drinking water without relying on central chlorination.

ENGINEERING VOLUNTEERS IN YAMAGUARE:

Chapter Date # Of Volunteers Chapter Date # Of Volunteers
Dalhousie University May 2022 11

Water

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

YAMAGUARE’S WATER CHALLENGE

When Global Brigades arrived in Yamaguare, the community had a water system built by the government along with the community members, however, the water system needed improvements. 

16

Volunteers

7.3

Kilometers of Pipeline Installed

10,000

Storage Tank Volume (gallons)

Water System : Yes
Type of System : Water tank with pump
Homes with Access to Water : 62%
Water Council : Yes

YAMAGUARE’S WATER SOLUTION

Water brigades began visiting Yamaguare in 2022. The system currently has a distribution network that connects the water storage tanks to 72 families.  

WATER VOLUNTEERS IN YAMAGUARE:

Chapter Date # Of Volunteers Chapter Date # Of Volunteers
University of Pittsburgh & University of Central Florida May 2022 16

Business

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in Yamaguare but has not yet begun with the Business Program. Now in the planning phase, the Business Program will conduct an evaluation of the existing community bank as soon as feasible.

Community Bank : No
Community Bank Members : N/A
Economic Activities : Agriculture, skilled labour, cattle raising
Existing Microenterprises : Mini market

Public Health

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in Yamaguare 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 : 80
Homes with Eco-Stoves : 30
Homes with Water FIlters : 10
Common House Materials : Cement blocks/bricks, adobe

Local Reference Points

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

  • Feature