Agua Blanca, Talanga

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

Overview

Agua Blanca, Talanga is located within the municipality of Talanga in the department of Francisco Morazan in central Honduras. The typical house is made of adobe. Children in the community have access to kindergarten and primary school, or up to sixth grade . There is a gravity-based water system in the community. Most of the community members work in agriculture and day labor. The top needs expressed by Agua Blanca’s inhabitants during their initial communications with Global Brigades include improvement of the water system, access to health care, and a community bank.

Municipality: Talanga
Department: Francisco Morazan

Homes : 182
Population : 1,000
Water System : Yes
Community Bank : No
Electricity : Yes
Health Center : Yes
Community Health Workers : Yes
Homes with Latrines : 50%
Education : Up to 6th grade
Distance from Lodging Facility : 38 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.

The community of Agua Blanca, Talanga has access to a CESAMO in Talanga, which is 3 kilometers away. During initial communications with Global Brigades, community members shared that the most common illnesses seen in the community are cold, dengue, malaria, diarrhea, hypertension, and diabetes.

47

Volunteers

922

Patient Consulations

N/A

Vision Screenings Provided

18

Health Education Workshops

COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS

Agua Blanca, Talanga has access to one Community Health Worker (CHWs) that was trained by Global Brigades in a nearby community. 

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 Agua Blanca, Talanga attend Medical and Dental Brigade clinics hosted in  Agua Blanca, Talanga’s school building. The various stations of the clinic are held in the school’s 5 classrooms. Doctors are able to spend an average of ten minutes with each patient. Each day of the brigade, an average of 13 educational charlas are facilitated with the clinic’s patients.

AVERAGE PATIENTS ATTENDED: 953
NEARBY COMMUNITIES: Las Quebradas, Buena Vista, Talanga, Ocotal

MEDICAL/DENTAL VOLUNTEERS IN AGUA BLANCA, TALANGA

Chapter Date # Of Volunteers
University of California San Diego Medical Brigade June 2015 47

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.

92

Patient Consultations

91

Number of Extractions

43

Fillings Performed

23

Dental Education Workshop

BRIGADE INFORMATION

Community members in Agua Blanca, Talanga attend Medical and Dental Brigade clinics hosted in  Agua Blanca, Talanga’s school building. The various stations of the clinic are held in the school’s 5 classrooms. Doctors are able to spend an average of ten minutes with each patient. Each day of the brigade, an average of 13 educational charlas are facilitated with the clinic’s patients.

AVERAGE PATIENTS ATTENDED: 953
NEARBY COMMUNITIES: Las Quebradas, Buena Vista, Talanga, Ocotal

MEDICAL/DENTAL VOLUNTEERS IN AGUA BLANCA, TALANGA

Chapter Date # Of Volunteers
University of California San Diego Medical Brigade June 2015 47

Engineering

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in Agua Blanca, Talanga 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 : 90%
Water Council : Yes

Water

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in Agua Blanca, Talanga 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 : 80%
Water Council : Yes

Business

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in Agua Blanca, Talanga 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, Day Labor
Existing Microenterprises : N/A

Public Health

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in Agua Blanca, Talanga 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 : N/A
Homes with Water FIlters : N/A
Common House Materials : Adobe

Local Reference Points

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

  • Feature