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.
La Zarzalosa does not have its own health center, but members of the commuity travel to a nearby community, Talanga, in order to get health care. There, the health center is a CESAMO, a larger scale health center where doctors and occasionally dentists are on staff. The most common illnesses are diabetes, arterial hypertension, respiratory infections, diarrhea, and fever.
*Statistics are from the community of Las Casillas, were community members from La Zarzalosa attend medical and dental brigades.
LA ZARZALOSA’S ENGINEERING SOLUTION