El Ojochal, Marcovia

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

Overview

El Ojochal is located within the municipality of Marcovia in the department of Choluteca in southern Honduras. The typical house is made of adobe, wood, and zinc. Children in the community have access up to 6th grade El Ojochal does have an existing water system and is in great need of one. Most of the community members work as weavers. The top needs expressed by El Ojochal‘s inhabitants during their initial communications with Global Brigades are access to water, public health projects, and health care access.

Municipality: Marcovia
Department: Choluteca

Homes : 175
Population : 950
Water System : No
Community Bank : Yes
Electricity : Yes
Health Center : N/A
Community Health Workers : N/A
Homes with Latrines : 100
Education : up to 6th grade
Distance from Lodging Facility : 25 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.

El Ojochal’s community members attend medical brigades in the nearby community of Guapinol. Community members mentioned that the most common illnesses that they suffer are diarrhea, cough, and the flu.

64

Volunteers

71

Patient Consultations

N/A

Pap Smears

COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS

The community of El Ojochal 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 Ojochal 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 Ojochal have not received in-person medical and dental brigades yet but they are actively receiving health care access through Global Brigades’ HCP Access Visit program and Medical TeleBrigades.

  • NEARBY COMMUNITIES: GUAPINOL, MONJARAS

 

MEDICAL/DENTAL VOLUNTEERS IN EL OJOCHAL, MARCOVIA

Chapter Date # Of Volunteers Chapter Date # Of Volunteers
Middle Tennessee State University & Pennsylvania State University & Southeast Missouri State University & University of Ozarks Medical TeleBrigade January 2021 19 Brandeis University Medical & Mount Allison University Medical TeleBrigade January 2021 26
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Medical TeleBrigade February 2021 19

 

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.

13

Patient Consultations

11

Number of Extractions

BRIGADE INFORMATION

Community members in El Ojochal have not received in-person medical and dental brigades yet but they are actively receiving health care access through our HCP Access Visit program and Medical TeleBrigades.

  • NEARBY COMMUNITIES: GUAPINOL, MONJARAS

 

MEDICAL/DENTAL VOLUNTEERS IN El OJOCHAL, MARCOVIA

Chapter Date # Of Volunteers Chapter Date # Of Volunteers
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Medical TeleBrigade February 2021 19

 

Engineering

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in El Ojochal but has not yet begun with the Engineering Program. Now in the planning phase, a reliable source of clean water will be identified as soon as feasible, followed by the design of a water solution sufficient to meet the community’s needs for the next 20 years with projected population growth.

Water System : No
Type of System : N/A
Homes with Access to Water : N/A
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 Water Program will begin implementing a new water system following the Engineering Program’s evaluation and recommendations.

 

Water System : No
Type of system : N/A
Homes with access to water : N/A
Water Council : N/A

Business

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in El Ojochal but has not yet begun with the Business Program. Now in the planning phase, a community bank will be established as soon as feasible.

Public Health

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in El Ojochal 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.

Local Reference Points

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

  • Feature