La Honda

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

Overview

La Honda is located in West Panama Province, District of Capira, Panama and started to work with Global Brigades in 2024. People in La Honda are primarily dedicated to agriculture, the houses are often made of cement blocks and bricks, and the community does not have access to a community bank, nor a health post.

Global Brigades is currently working with Medical and Dental brigades in La Honda and the community is on the wait-list for eventual Holistic Model implementation as part of Global Brigades’ strategic plan in Panama

Province: West Panama

District: Capira

Homes : N/A
Population : N/A
Water System : No
Community Bank : Not Started
Electricity : Yes
Health Center : No
Community Health Workers : Not Started
% of Homes with Latrines : N/A

Medical

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

HEALTH CARE ACCESS:

Even though Panama is a country with a lot of economic growth, this growth does not apply equally to all Panamanians, especially those in rural areas. This results in stark inequality when it comes to healthcare access. The Panamanian Ministry of Health (MINSA) provides two different types of health facilities throughout rural Panama: Centros de Salud and Puestos de Salud. Centros 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. Puestos are found sporadically in rural communities and generally have a single nurse available. 

45

Medical Volunteers

243

Patient Consultations

12

Health Education Workshops

Health Post : No
Community Health Workers : Not Started

COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS:

GB Panama’s Medical Dental team started the Agentes Comunitarios en Salud or ACeS program in 2016. “Agentes” from 10 communities in East Panama and Darien were Panama’s first community health workers. La Honda doesn’t have Community Health Workers in training yet but Global Brigades is actively working on implementing this program.

Some of the CHW’s primary responsibilities include:

  • Promoting healthy practices and maintaining contact with GB staff about their progress
  • Performing First Aid in the case of an emergency
  • Managing the Patient Referral cases of the community
  • Promoting involvement with other GB programs such as Human Rights, Public Health and Microfinance workshops
  • Recording and monitoring members of their respective communities who:
    • Are pregnant
    • Have a chronic disease
    • Are children under five
      years old.

MEDICAL VOLUNTEERS IN LA HONDA:

Chapter Date # Of Volunteers Chapter Date # Of Volunteers
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Medical May 2024 18 Virginia Tech Medical January 2025 27

Dental

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

DENTAL CARE ACCESS

A dental Charla in a community in Panama

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 dentists within a reasonable distance.

117

Patient Consultations

50

Number of Extractions

28

Fluoride Treatments

22

Fillings Performed

13

Dental Education Workshops

DENTAL VOLUNTEERS IN LA HONDA:

Chapter Date # Of Volunteers Chapter Date # Of Volunteers
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Medical May 2024 18 Virginia Tech Medical January 2025 27

Water

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in La Honda but has not yet begun with the Water Program. If there is a need, the Water Program will begin implementing a new water system or any necessary repairs to existing infrastructure as soon as feasible.

Water System : No
% 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 La Honda but has not yet begun with the Business Program. The implementation of microfinance literacy will start as soon as feasible.

 

Public Health

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in La Honda but has not yet begun with the Public Health Program. The implementation of public health services and the improvement of infrastructure will start as soon as feasible.

% Homes with Latrines : N/A
% Homes with Eco-Stoves : N/A
% Homes with Water FIlters : N/A
% Homes with concrete floors : N/A
% Homes with bath/showers : N/A
Common House Materials : N/A

Local Reference Points

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

  • Feature