Cofradia, El Paraíso

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

Overview

Cofradia is located within the municipality of El Paraíso in the department of El Paraíso in Central Honduras. The typical house is made of adobe, cement blocks, or bricks. Children in the community have access to primary school, or up to sixth grade. Most of the community members work in agriculture. The top needs expressed by Cofradia’s inhabitants during their initial communications with Global Brigades include access to health care, in-home public health infrastructure, and imporvements to the community’s water system.

Municipality: El Paraíso
Department: El Paraíso

Homes : 350
Population : 2,000
Water System : Yes
Community Bank : No
Electricity : Yes
Health Center : No
Community Health Workers : No
Homes with Latrines : N/A
Education : Up to 6th Grade
Distance from Lodging Facility : 74 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 unavailable in these health centers. The physician density in Honduras remains at 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 with adequate access to medical attention.

There is no health center in the community of Cofradia, El Paraíso. If community members require access to medical attention, they must walk two kilometres to the nearest CESAMO in the municipality of El Paraíso. The most common illnesses reported by community members include fevers, diarrhoea, the common cold, anaemia, diabetes, and hypertension.

116

Volunteers

2,393

Patient Consulations

203

Vision Screenings Provided

67

Health Education Workshops

COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS

The community of Cofradia, El Paraíso 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. Cofradia, El Paraíso will receive training as soon as possible to further support the health of its community members.

BRIGADE INFORMATION

Community members in Cofradia, El Paraíso attend Medical and Dental Brigade clinics hosted in the community’s school building. The various stations of the clinic are held in the school’s seven classrooms. Doctors are able to spend an average of ten minutes with each patient.

AVERAGE PATIENTS ATTENDED: 812
NEARBY COMMUNITIES: EL ZAPOTE, CASA QUEMADA, LAS UVAS, LOS HIGUEROS, EL SILLON, LA JAGUA, NUEVO GUANACASTE

MEDICAL/DENTAL VOLUNTEERS IN COFRADIA, EL PARAÍSO

Chapter Date # Of Volunteers Chapter Date # Of Volunteers
University of Illinois Urbana Champaign Medical Brigade May 2018 45 Duke University Medical Brigade & University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Medical Brigade January 2019 31
Georgia State University Medical Brigade & Maryland University Medical Brigade & Mississippi State University Medical Brigade May 2019 40

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.

231

Patient Consultations

328

Number of Extractions

111

Fillings Performed

33

Dental Education Workshop

BRIGADE INFORMATION

Community members in Cofradia, El Paraíso attend Medical and Dental Brigade clinics hosted in the community’s school building. The various stations of the clinic are held in the school’s seven classrooms. Doctors are able to spend an average of ten minutes with each patient.

AVERAGE PATIENTS ATTENDED: 812
NEARBY COMMUNITIES: EL ZAPOTE, CASA QUEMADA, LAS UVAS, LOS HIGUEROS, EL SILLON, LA JAGUA, NUEVO GUANACASTE

MEDICAL/DENTAL VOLUNTEERS IN COFRADIA, EL PARAÍSO

Chapter Date # Of Volunteers Chapter Date # Of Volunteers
University of Illinois Urbana Champaign Medical Brigade May 2018 45 Duke University Medical Brigade & University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Medical Brigade January 2019 31
Georgia State University Medical Brigade & Maryland University Medical Brigade & Mississippi State University Medical Brigade May 2019 40

Engineering

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

COFRADIA’S ENGINEERING CHALLENGE

Currently, Cofradia has an obsolete gravity water system with an incomplete distribution system. The current system was constructed in 1998 and is very outdated and in bad condition. The diameters of the pipes are insufficient in relation to the demands of the community, because of this and the incomplete network, there are around 100 homes without water. The water source for this system is a stream near the community. Additionally, the water storage tank can only hold 10,000 gallons, which is not sufficient to serve the needs of the community.

 

20

Volunteers

946

Beneficiaries

11

Kilometer of pipeline designed

15

Average Community Volunteers

COFRADIA’S ENGINEERING SOLUTION

Global Brigades conducted a study, presented community leaders with an engineering design for a water system, and is looking forward to breaking ground on a pump system in the community. Global Brigades plans to construct a new 30,000-gallon water storage tank that will be part of a Gravity system to provide all homes in the community with water. The community will soon receive Water Brigades, which will contribute to the system’s construction, and expects to finish the project in 3-4 months.

Upon completion of the system, Global Brigades will conduct training with the existing Water Council in the community. The Council will be responsible for monitoring and maintaining the system. Additionally, Global Brigades will train a Basic Sanitation Committee, which will work to share information with community members on the importance of clean water and proper sanitation and hygiene practices. Together, the Water Council and the Basic Sanitation Committee will oversee all aspects of the construction of the water system in Cofradia. They will ensure that the system is used and maintained responsibly.

ENGINEERING VOLUNTEERS IN COFRADIA

Chapter Date # Of Volunteers
Dalhousie University Engineering Brigade & McMaster University Engineering Brigade April 2019 20

Water

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in Cofradia, El Paraíso 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 : 55%
Water Council : No

Business

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in Cofradia, El Paraíso but has not yet begun with the Business Program. Now in the planning phase, a community bank will be established as soon as feasible, followed by market studies and investment in an anchor business to provide additional capital.

Community Bank : No
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 Cofradia, El Paraíso 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 : 35
Homes with Eco-Stoves : 2
Homes with Water FIlters : 0
Common House Materials : Adobe, Cement Blocks, Bricks

Local Reference Points

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

  • Feature