San Bernardo

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

Overview

San Bernardo is located within the municipality of Namasigüe in the department of Choluteca in Southern Honduras. The typical house is made of adobe. Children in the community have access to Centro Básico, or up to ninth grade. Most of the community members work in agriculture and fishing. The top needs expressed by San Bernardo’s inhabitants during their initial communications with Global Brigades include access to health care, in-home public health infrastructure, and improvements to the community’s water system.

Municipality: Namasigüe
Department: Choluteca

Homes : 619
Population : 2,615
Water System : Yes
Community Bank : No
Electricity : Yes
Health Center : Yes
Community Health Workers : No
Homes with Latrines : 50%
Education : Up to 9th Grade
Distance from Lodging Facility : 62 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.

The community is fortunate enough to have the nearby community health center, “Centro de Salud Marcelino Oliva”. The biggest health issues facing the community members of San Bernardo respiratory issues, hypertension and diabetes.

91

Volunteers

2,565

Patient Consulations

308

Vision Screenings Provided

45

Health Education Workshops

COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS

The community of San Bernardo has 3 Community Health Workers that are currently in training and will be providing basic medical aid to the community members soon. Global Brigades Honduras’ Medical Program is working diligently to train volunteers as CHWs in its partner communities as part of the Holistic Model. 

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 San Bernardo attend Medical and Dental Brigade clinics hosted in San Bernardo’s school building. The various stations of the clinic are held in the school. Doctors are able to spend an average of ten minutes with each patient. Each day of the brigade, an average of 8 educational charlas are facilitated with the clinic’s patients.

AVERAGE PATIENTS ATTENDED: 842
NEARBY COMMUNITIES: Montecristo, Montelimar, Rancheria, Los Prados, Nueva Union, Santa Emilia

MEDICAL/DENTAL BRIGADES IN SAN BERNARDO

Chapter Date # Of Volunteers Chapter Date # Of Volunteers
College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University Medical Brigade May 2017 38 Thomas Jefferson University Medical Brigade May 2018 24
Case Western Reserve University Medical Brigade May 2019 29

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.

242

Patient Consultations

246

Number of Extractions

177

Fillings Performed

35

Dental Education Workshop

BRIGADE INFORMATION

Community members in San Bernardo attend Medical and Dental Brigade clinics hosted in San Bernardo’s school building. The various stations of the clinic are held in the school. Doctors are able to spend an average of ten minutes with each patient. Each day of the brigade, an average of 8 educational charlas are facilitated with the clinic’s patients.

AVERAGE PATIENTS ATTENDED: 842
NEARBY COMMUNITIES: Montecristo, Montelimar, Rancheria, Los Prados, Nueva Union, Santa Emilia

MEDICAL/DENTAL BRIGADES IN SAN BERNARDO

Chapter Date # Of Volunteers Chapter Date # Of Volunteers
College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University Medical Brigade May 2017 38 Thomas Jefferson University Medical Brigade May 2018 24
Case Western Reserve University Medical Brigade May 2019 29

Engineering

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in San Bernardo 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 : Yes
Type of System : Mixed (Water Tank with a Pump)
Homes with Access to Water : 80%
Water Council : Yes

Water

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in San Bernardo but has not yet begun with the Water Program. Now in the planning phase, the Water Program will begin implementing a new water system or any necessary repairs to existing infrastructure following the Engineering Program’s evaluation and recommendations.

 

Water System : Yes
Type of System : Mixed (Water Tank with a Pump)
Homes with Access to Water : 80%
Water Council : Yes

Business

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in San Bernardo but has not yet begun with the Business Program. Now in the planning phase, a community bank will be established as soon as feasible, followed by market studies and investment in an anchor business to provide additional capital.

Community Bank : No
Community Bank Members : N/A
Economic Activities : Agriculture and Fishing
Existing Microenterprises : Corner Stores

Public Health

Program Status

  • Planning
  • Active
  • Complete

Global Brigades is working on the implementation of the Holistic Model in San Bernardo 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.

Homes with Latrines : 50%
Homes with Eco-Stoves : 0%
Homes with Water FIlters : 0%
Common House Materials : Adobe

Local Reference Points

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

  • Feature