Mercedes Chirina, Danlí

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

Overview

Mercedes Chirina is located within the municipality of Danlí in the department of El Paraiso in south eastern Honduras. Children in the community have access to a primary school, which is up to 6th grade. Most of the community members work in Agriculture. The top needs expressed by Santa Cruz’s inhabitants during their initial communications with Global Brigades are medical care, and a water system.

Municipality: Danlí
Department: El Paraiso

Homes : 232
Population : 1,500
Water System : No
Community Bank : No
Electricity : Yes
Health Center : Yes
Community Health Worker : No
Homes with Latrines : N/A
Education : Up to 6th 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 Mercedes Chirina are fortunate enough to have a health center in their community to address any immediate health needs but must travel to the city of Danlí for more serious cases. As reported by community leaders, with Global Brigades initial communications with the community, the most common illnesses plaguing this community are related to ears, eyes nose and throat.

371

Volunteers

6,960

Patient Consultations

125

Vision Screenings Provided

127

Health Education Workshops

COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS

Mercedes Chirina currently does not have any CHW’s but training will begin as soon as possible. The CHWs were trained in El Espinito as part of a larger group that came from 4 smaller communities, including Guayacan, San Matías, Rio Namales, and San Jeronimo. 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 Mercedes Chirina attend Medical and Dental Brigade clinics hosted in Mercedes Chirina primary school building. The various stations of the clinic are held in the school’s 7 classrooms. Doctors are able to spend an average of 10 minutes with each patient. Each day of the brigade, an average of 6 educational charlas are facilitated with the clinic’s patients. 

AVERAGE PATIENTS ATTENDED: 724
NEARBY COMMUNITIES: Jamastran, Matazano, Las Mercedes, El Naranjal, Empalme

 

MEDICAL/DENTAL VOLUNTEERS IN MERCEDES CHIRINA

Chapter Date # Of Volunteers Chapter Date # Of Volunteers
University of Arizona Professional Medical Brigade March 2012 38 Texas A&M University Medical Brigade August 2012 29
Austin College Medical Brigade May 2013 27 Duke University Medical Brigade December 2013 42
Johns Hopkins University Graduate School Medical Brigade May 2014 49 Keck Graduate Institute Medical Brigade & University of California Berkeley Postbaccs Medical Brigade May 2014 49
University of Wisconsin – Madison Medical Brigade January 2015 28 Champan University Medical Brigade June 2015 4
Johns Hopkins University Medical Brigade May 2016 43 Texas A&M International University Medical Brigade August 2018 38
Ohio State University Medical Brigade May 2017 38 Midwestern University Medical Brigade May 2019 26

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.

778

Patient Consultations

675

Number of Extractions

462

Fillings Performed

101

Dental Education Workshops

BRIGADE INFORMATION

Community members in Mercedes Chirina attend Medical and Dental Brigade clinics hosted in Mercedes Chirina primary school building. The various stations of the clinic are held in the school’s 7 classrooms. Doctors are able to spend an average of 10 minutes with each patient. Each day of the brigade, an average of 6 educational charlas are facilitated with the clinic’s patients. 

AVERAGE PATIENTS ATTENDED: 724
NEARBY COMMUNITIES: Jamastran, Matazano, Las Mercedes, El Naranjal, Empalme

 

MEDICAL/DENTAL VOLUNTEERS IN MERCEDES CHIRINA

Chapter Date # Of Volunteers Chapter Date # Of Volunteers
University of Arizona Professional Medical Brigade March 2012 38 Texas A&M University Medical Brigade August 2012 29
Austin College Medical Brigade May 2013 27 Duke University Medical Brigade December 2013 42
Johns Hopkins University Graduate School Medical Brigade May 2014 49 Keck Graduate Institute Medical Brigade & University of California Berkeley Postbaccs Medical Brigade May 2014 49
University of Wisconsin – Madison Medical Brigade January 2015 28 Champan University Medical Brigade June 2015 4
Johns Hopkins University Medical Brigade May 2016 43 Texas A&M International University Medical Brigade August 2018 38
Ohio State University Medical Brigade May 2017 38 Midwestern University Medical Brigade May 2019 26

Engineering

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in Mercedes Chirina 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 : Water Tank with Pump
Homes with Access to Water : 100%
Water Council : Yes

Water

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in Mercedes Chirina 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 : Water Tank with Pump
Homes with Access to Water : 100%
Water Council : Yes

Business

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

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

Public Health

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in Mercedes Chirina 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 : 100%
Homes with Eco-Stoves : 8%
Homes with Water Filters : 0%
Common House Materials : Adobe, Cement Blocks, Wood

Local Reference Points

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

  • Feature