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.
There is no health center in the community of El Pedregal. If community members from El Pedregal wish to seek medical attention, they must walk five kilometers to the nearest CESAMO in Villas de San Francisco. According to community members, this health center rarely has the medications they need and there is no access to a private pharmacy. The most common illnesses are fungal infections, respiratory illnesses, diabetes, and arterial hypertension.