Las Pilas

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

Overview

Las Pilas is located within the municipality of Amapala in the department of Valle in southern Honduras. The typical house is made of adobe or cement blocks. Children in the community have access to attend school in the nearby community of . Most of the community members work in fishing.

Municipality: Amapala
Department: Valle

Homes : 22
Population : 120
Water System : Yes
Community Bank : No
Electricity : Yes
Health Center : No
Community Health Workers : Yes
Homes with Latrines : 32%
Education : N/A
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.

Community members in Las Pilas have access to a CESAR in Los Langues, which is 4 km away. Medications are sometimes available. During initial communications with community members in Las Pilas, Global Brigades learned that the most common illnesses seen are respiratory, diabetes, and rheumatological illnesses.

*Statistics based on Los Huatales, where community members from Las Pilas Attend Medical/Dental Brigades.

81

Volunteers*

1,154

Patient Consultations*

N/A

Vision Screenings Provided*

65

Health Education Workshops*

COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS

Las Pilas has access to one Community Health Worker (CHW). This CHW was trained in the community of Los Huatales.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 can 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 of Las Pilas attend Medical and Dental Brigades in Los Huatales. The brigades are held in the local school. Doctors spend an average of 10 minutes with each patient and we are able to provide 12 educational charlas a day.

  • AVERAGE PATIENTS ATTENDED: 415
  • NEARBY COMMUNITIES: TIERRAS COLORADAS, PUERTO GRANDE, LANGUES

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.

*Statistics based on Los Huatales, where community members from Las Pilas Attend Medical/Dental Brigades.

129

Patient Consultations *

124

Number of Extractions*

81

Filings Peformed*

20

Dental Education Workshops*

BRIGADE INFORMATION

Community members of Las Pilas attend Medical and Dental Brigades in Los Huatales. The brigades are held in the local school. Doctors spend an average of 10 minutes with each patient and we are able to provide 12 educational charlas a day.

  • AVERAGE PATIENTS ATTENDED: 415
  • NEARBY COMMUNITIES: TIERRAS COLORADAS, PUERTO GRANDE, LANGUES

Engineering

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in Las Pilas 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 : Well (Ground water with Pump)
Homes with Access to Water : 55%
Water Council : Yes

Water

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in Las Pilas 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 : Well (Ground water with Pump)
Homes with Access to Water : 55%
Water Council : Yes

Business

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

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

Community Bank : No
Community Bank Members : N/A
Economic Activities : Fishing
Existing Microenterprises : Corner Stores, Eateries

Public Health

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

LAS PILAS’ PUBLIC HEALTH CHALLENGE

Many community members in Las Pilas lacked the necessary resources to improve their homes and prevent diseases caused by unsafe living conditions. The majority of homes were made of adobe, straw, and mud, and few homes had hygiene stations, cement floors, or eco-stoves prior to the arrival of Global Brigades. These living conditions resulted in disease. The lack of hygiene stations led to high rates of diarrhea and water-borne disease, the absence of cement floors caused parasitic infection and Chagas Disease, and the lack of eco-stoves resulted in respiratory problems in many community members.

Although community members recognized the problems inherent to their living environments, they did not have the economic resources nor the technical knowledge needed to address them. It also was necessary to increase the level of awareness concerning sanitation and the importance of health in the community.

54

Volunteers

3

Sanitation Units Installed

12

People Benefited with Public Health Infrastructure

N/A

Hours of Public Health Education

PUBLIC HEALTH BRIGADES IN LAS PILAS

Chapter Date # Of Volunteers Chapter Date # Of Volunteers
Seton Hall University Medical Brigade & Texas A&M University Medical Brigade January 2019 30 Smith College Medical Brigade January 2019 24

Local Reference Points

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

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