Agua Blanca, Cedros

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

Overview

Agua Blanca is located within the municipality of Cedros in the department of Francisco Morazan in Central Honduras. Children in the community have access up to 9th grade. The community has an existing water system that is in high need of improvement due to insufficient water collection. Most of the community members work in agriculture and brickyard. The top needs expressed by Agua Blanca‘s inhabitants during their initial communications with Global Brigades are access to clean water, healthcare access, and community bank establishment.

Municipality: Cedros
Department: Francisco Morazan

Homes : 182
Population : 1000
Water System : Yes
Community Bank : N/A
Electricity : Yes
Health Center : N/A
Community Health Workers : Yes
Homes with Latrines : 91
Education : Up to 6th grade
Distance from Lodging Facility : 50 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.

Agua Blanca’s community members attend the CESAMO located 3 km away in the community of Talanga. Although medical staff provides consultation in the health care center, most of the time it is understaffed and lacks basic medicantion. Agua Blanca’s community members mentioned that the most common diseases that kids suffer are the flu, dengue, and malaria.

435

Brigade Volunteers

7,827

Patient Consulations

15

PAP Smears Performed

260

Health Education Workshops

COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS

The community of Agua Blanca does not yet have Community Health Workers. Global Brigades Honduras’ Medical Program is working diligently to train volunteers as CHWs in its partner communities as part of the Holistic Model. Agua Blanca will receive training as soon as possible to further support the health of its community members.

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 attend Medical and Dental Brigade clinics hosted in Las Animas’ school building. The various stations of the clinic are held in the school’s 3 classrooms in addition to kindergarten building. Doctors spend an average of 10 minutes with each patient and we are able to provide 9 educational charlas a day. 

  • AVERAGE PATIENTS ATTENDED: 658
  • NEARBY COMMUNITIES: Las Portillas, El Buey, El Pedregal, Las Laguitas, Pirineos, Siria, Sikagura, Maya, Santa Rosa, Las Itas, El Pernal, Cicaragua

*Since Agua Blanca’s community members attend medical brigades in Las Animas’, these stats belong to this community.

MEDICAL/DENTAL VOLUNTEERS IN LAS ANIMAS

Chapter Date # Of Volunteers Chapter Date # Of Volunteers
Washington University in St. Louis Medical Brigade January 2012 37 University of Pennsylvania Medical Brigade March 2012 36
University of San Diego Medical Brigade August 2012 28 Arizona State University Medical Brigade & Louisiana State University Medical Brigade 2013 51
University of San Diego Medical Brigade January 2014 41 Oglethorpe University Medical Brigade & University of Texas Dallas Medical Brigade May 2015 30
University of California Berkeley Medical Brigade January 2016 21 Michigan State University Medical Brigade May 2016 18
Keck Graduate Institute Medical Brigade & University of California Berkeley Medical Brigade May 2017 21 University of Maryland Dental Brigade January 2017 22
San Francisco State University Medical Brigade & Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine Medical Brigade June 2018 51 Seton Hall University Medical Brigade & University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Medical Brigade March 2019 32
San Jose State University Medical Brigade July 2019 20 University of Texas Austin Medical TeleBrigade January 2021 27

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.

1,199

Patient Consultations

1,177

Fluoride Treatments

598

Fillings Performed

120

Dental Education Workshop

BRIGADE INFORMATION

Community members in Agua Blanca attend Medical and Dental Brigade clinics hosted in Las Animas’ school building. The various stations of the clinic are held in the school’s 3 classrooms in addition to kindergarten building. Doctors spend an average of 10 minutes with each patient and we are able to provide 9 educational charlas a day. 

  • AVERAGE PATIENTS ATTENDED: 658
  • NEARBY COMMUNITIES: LAS PORTILLAS, EL BUEY, EL PEDERAL, LAS LAGITAS, PIRINEOS, LA MONTAÑITA, SIRIA, SIKAGURA, MAYA, SANTA ROSA, EL BUEY LAS ITAS, EL PERNAL, CICAGUARA

*Since Agua Blanca’s community members attend medical brigades in Las Animas’, these stats belong to this community.

MEDICAL/DENTAL VOLUNTEERS IN LAS ANIMAS

Chapter Date # Of Volunteers Chapter Date # Of Volunteers
Washington University in St. Louis Medical Brigade January 2012 37 University of Pennsylvania Medical Brigade March 2012 36
University of San Diego Medical Brigade August 2012 28 Arizona State University Medical Brigade & Louisiana State University Medical Brigade 2013 51
University of San Diego Medical Brigade January 2014 41 Oglethorpe University Medical Brigade & University of Texas Dallas Medical Brigade May 2015 30
University of California Berkeley Medical Brigade January 2016 21 Michigan State University Medical Brigade May 2016 18
Keck Graduate Institute Medical Brigade & University of California Berkeley Medical Brigade May 2017 21 University of Maryland Dental Brigade January 2017 22
San Francisco State University Medical Brigade & Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine Medical Brigade June 2018 51 Seton Hall University Medical Brigade & University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Medical Brigade March 2019 32
San Jose State University Medical Brigade July 2019 20

Engineering

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in Agua Blanca 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 : 164
Water Council : N/A

Water

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in Agua Blanca 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 : 164
Water Council : N/A

Business

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in Agua Blanca 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 : N/A
Community Bank Members : N/A
Economic Activities : Agriculture
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 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 : 91
Homes with Eco-Stoves : N/A
Homes with Water FIlters : N/A

Local Reference Points

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

  • Feature