El Cordoncillo is located within the municipality of Yuscarán in the department of El Paraíso in central Honduras. The typical house is made of adobe. Children in the community have access to education up to sixth grade. The community has its own water system, but it is very old. For this reason, the pipes frequently break and a number of homes were never connected to the system. Most of the community members work in agriculture. The top needs expressed by El Cordoncillo’s inhabitants during their initial communications with Global Brigades include medical attention, in-home public health infrastructure, and improvements to the community’s water system.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.
There is no health center in the community of El Cordoncillo. If community members need to seek medical attention, they must walk ten kilometers to the nearest CESAMO in Yuscarán. The most common illnesses reported by community members include respiratory infections, GI infections, the common cold, arterial hypertension, diabetes, and arthritis.
COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS
BRIGADE INFORMATION