Cofradia, Cantarranas

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

Overview

Cofradia, Cantarranas is located in central Honduras and does not have its own health centre. People in Cofradia, Cantarranas are primarily dedicated to agriculture and day labour. Global Brigades is currently working with the Medical and Dental Program in Cofradia, Cantarranas, and the implementation of other programs as part of Global Brigades’ strategic plan in Honduras is in the planning stages.

Municipality: San Juan de Flores

Department: Francisco Morazan

Homes : 90
Population : 350
Water System : Yes
Community Bank : No
Electricity : Yes
Health Center : No
Community Health Workers : Yes
% of Homes with Latrines : 10%
Education : Up to 6th Grade
Distance from Lodging Facility : 29 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 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.

Cofradia, Cantarranas does not have a health centre. Instead, individuals go to the community of El Zarzal. There, the health centre is a CESAR, a larger scale health centre where doctors and occasionally dentists are on staff. The most common illnesses are diarrhoea, cough, common cold, hypertension, and diabetes.

199

Volunteers

3048

Patient Consultations

203

Vision Screenings Provided

114

Health Education Workshops

COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS

Cofradia, Cantarranas has access to a total of 5 community members divided into Community Health Workers (CHWs) and Community Health Entrepreneurs (CHEs). These CHWs and CHEs were trained in the community of El Zarzal.

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 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 the proper administration of medications and treatments to avoid further complications. Additionally, CHWs provide support for brigades that are hosted in their area. After 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 Cofradia, Cantarranas attend Medical and Dental Brigade clinics hosted in Cofradia, Cantarranas’ school building. The various stations of the clinic are held in the school’s 4 classrooms. Doctors are able to spend an average of 10-15 minutes with each patient. Each day of the brigade, an average of 20 educational charlas are facilitated with the clinic’s patients.

AVERAGE PATIENTS ATTENDED: 396
NEARBY COMMUNITIES: El Zarzal, Guaricayan, El Ocote

MEDICAL/DENTAL VOLUNTEERS IN COFRADIA

Chapter Date # Of Volunteers Chapter Date # Of Volunteers
Albion College Medical Brigade December 2011 17 Arizona State University Medical Brigade May 2012 17
California State University Los Angeles Medical Brigade August 2017 19 University of Alabama at Birmingham Medical Brigade & University of Michigan Medical Brigade April 2018 41
Johns Hopkins University Medical Brigade January 2019 20 University of Toronto Medical Brigade & University of Toronto Mississauga Medical Brigade August 2019 23
University of Mississippi Medical Brigade March 2020 16 Middle Tennessee State University & CEGEP Marianopolis May 2021 30
University of Missouri January 2024 16

Dental

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

DENTAL CARE  ACCESS

In 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 dentist within a reasonable distance.

345

Patient Consultations

275

Number of Extractions

216

Fillings Performed

34

Dental Education Workshops

BRIGADE INFORMATION

Community members in Cofradia, Cantarranas attend Medical and Dental Brigade clinics hosted in Cofradia, Cantarranas’ school building. The various stations of the clinic are held in the school’s 4 classrooms. Doctors are able to spend an average of 10-15 minutes with each patient. Each day of the brigade, an average of 20 educational charlas are facilitated with the clinic’s patients.

AVERAGE PATIENTS ATTENDED: 396
NEARBY COMMUNITIES: El Zarzal, Guaricayan, El Ocote

MEDICAL/DENTAL VOLUNTEERS IN COFRADIA

Chapter Date # Of Volunteers Chapter Date # Of Volunteers
Albion College Medical Brigade December 2011 17 Arizona State University Medical Brigade May 2012 17
California State University Los Angeles Medical Brigade August 2017 19 University of Alabama at Birmingham Medical Brigade & University of Michigan Medical Brigade April 2018 41
Johns Hopkins University Medical Brigade January 2019 20 University of Toronto Medical Brigade & University of Toronto Mississauga Medical Brigade August 2019 23
University of Mississippi Medical Brigade March 2020 16 Middle Tennessee State University Medical & CEGEP Marianopolis May 2021 30
University of Missouri Medical Brigade January 2024 16

Engineering

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

COFRADIA, CANTARRANAS’ ENGINEERING CHALLENGE

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in Cofradia, Cantarranas, 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 : N/A
Water Council : Yes

Water

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

COFRADIA, CANTARRANAS’ WATER CHALLENGE

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in Cofradia, Cantarranas, 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 : N/A
Water Council : Yes

Business

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

COFRADIA, CANTARRANAS’ ECONOMIC  CHALLENGE

Cofradia’s primary occupations in the community are based on agriculture within the community. These jobs are typically seasonal from December – May, which can create challenges. There are A FEW small businesses in the community, but they don’t usually have capital.

Volunteers have been working with Cofradia community members providing them with deliverables they can use in their businesses.

50

Brigade Volunteers

Community Bank, : No
Community Bank Members : N/A
Economic Activities : Agriculture
Existing Microenterprises : N/A

BUSINESS VOLUNTEERS IN COFRADIA:

Chapter Date # Of Volunteers Chapter Date # Of Volunteers
Salem High School April 2023 29 California State University Monterey Bay May 2023 21

Public Health

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

COFRADIA, CANTARRANAS’ PUBLIC HEALTH  CHALLENGE

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in Cofradia, Cantarranas, 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.

14

Volunteers

N/A

Hours of Public Health Education

Homes with Latrines : 10%
Homes with Eco-Stoves : 50%
Homes with Water Filters : N/A
Common House Materials : Adobe

COFRADIA, CANTARRANAS’ PUBLIC HEALTH  SOLUTION

The optimal solution to provide this community with better public access is to oversee and improve the existing services in the community by applying surveys to the community members and conducting research.

PUBLIC HEALTH VOLUNTEERS IN COFRADIA, CANTARRANAS

Chapter Date # Of Volunteers Chapter Date # Of Volunteers
University of Oklahoma Public Health May 2022 14

Local Reference Points

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

  • Feature