El Espinal, Pespire

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

Overview

El Espinal is located within the municipality of Pespire in the department of Choluteca in southern Honduras. The typical house is made of adobe or cement. Children in the community have access to up to grade nine. There is currently a gravity water system. Most of the community members work in agriculture, cattle raising, and as day laborers. The top needs expressed by El Espinal’s inhabitants during their initial communications with Global Brigades include latrines, water system improvement, and a community bank.

Municipality: Pespire
Department: Choluteca

Homes : 76
Population : 400
Water System : Yes
Community Bank : No
Electricity : Yes
Health Center : Yes
Community Health Workers : No
Homes with Latrines : 65%
Education : Up to 9th Grade
Distance from Lodging Facility : 35 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.

Community members of El Espinal, Pespire have access to a CESAR in El Espinal called Hector Emili Molina, named after the donor of the land. Medications are not always available at this health center. The most common illnesses as reported by the community members are resipiratory diseases, blood pressure, and diabetes.

201

Volunteers

2,587

Patient Consulations

167

Vision Screenings Provided

97

Health Education Workshops

COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS

The community of El Espinal 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. El Espinal 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 El Espinal attend Medical and Dental Brigade clinics hosted in El Espinal’s school building. The various stations of the clinic are held in the school’s 10 classrooms. Doctors are able to spend an average of ten minutes with each patient.

AVERAGE PATIENTS ATTENDED: 667
NEARBY COMMUNITIES: Marias, Chacara, El Rincon, Cruzitas, Moranica, Lucia, Agua Tibia, Plan Verde, Papalo

MEDICAL/DENTAL VOLUNTEERS IN EL ESPINAL

Chapter Date # Of Volunteers Chapter Date # Of Volunteers
Rice University Medical Brigade May 2014 33 Mount Allison University Medical Brigade February 2015 38
DePaul University Medical Brigade December 2015 43 Southeast Missouri State University Medical Brigade August 2016 21
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Medical Brigade & Saint Louis University Medical Brigade January 2018 36 Texas A&M University Medical Brigade & Seton Hall Medical Brigade January 2019 30

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.

134

Patient Consultations

157

Number of Extractions

68

Fillings Performed

195

Dental Education Workshop

BRIGADE INFORMATION

Community members in El Espinal attend Medical and Dental Brigade clinics hosted in El Espinal’s school building. The various stations of the clinic are held in the school’s 10 classrooms. Doctors are able to spend an average of ten minutes with each patient.

AVERAGE PATIENTS ATTENDED: 667
NEARBY COMMUNITIES: Marias, Chacara, El Rincon, Cruzitas, Moranica, Lucia, Agua Tibia, Plan Verde, Papalo

MEDICAL/DENTAL VOLUNTEERS IN EL ESPINAL

Chapter Date # Of Volunteers Chapter Date # Of Volunteers
Rice University Medical Brigade May 2014 33 Mount Allison University Medical Brigade February 2015 38
DePaul University Medical Brigade December 2015 43 Southeast Missouri State University Medical Brigade August 2016 21
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Medical Brigade & Saint Louis University Medical Brigade January 2018 36 Texas A&M University Medical Brigade & Seton Hall Medical Brigade January 2019 30

Engineering

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in El Espinal 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 : 100%
Water Council : Yes

Water

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in El Espinal 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 : 100%
Water Council : Yes

Business

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in El Espinal 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, Day Laborer
Existing Microenterprises : N/A

Public Health

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in El Espinal 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 :
Homes with Eco-Stoves : 50
Homes with Water FIlters : 0
Common House Materials : Adobe, Brick

Local Reference Points

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

  • Feature