El Eden, Honduras
Click on Programs to learn more about their work in this community
General Information
| Population* | 600 |
| Number of homes | 140 |
| Avg # of people per home | 4.3 |
| Number and % of children | (0-5yrs): 20 (3.3%) (6-12yrs): 84 (14%) |
| Electricity | Yes (most sectors) |
| GPS |
N 14° 05.521’ W 087° 06.192’ |
| Altitude | 1630m |
| Municipality | Santa Lucia |
| Department | Francisco Morazán |
| Corresponding Health Center | CESAMO - Santa Lucia |
| Distance from compounds | 45 minutes |
| Road conditions | Fair |
* Population does not reflect how many patients will be seen on medical
brigades as many people from surrounding communities come seeking
Medical Brigades medical attention.
Top Three Needs Expressed
The top three needs expressed by the key community members are access to potable water
in some unreached areas of the community, and improvement in community health (through access to medicine and public health projects such as latrines and pilas), and the need to create a microenterprise and more access to credit in the community.
El Eden’s educational system includes Kinder and Primary schools (through 6th grade). In total, there are 104 students and Prof. Cristelia Flores is the school director. It is approximated that 80% of the community knows how to read and write.
El Eden has a water system that was constructed in 1999 that provides water for 1 of 2 sectors of the community. This system reaches 24 homes (21%) and water arrives every other day. The water is not chlorinated1 because of community complaints about the taste and effect on agricultural crops. The other sector of the community (Tamagas) is not connected to any water system and either retrieves water from Santa Lucia or gets water from a well; however, the main sources of water are underground and surface water sources are scarce. This is detrimental to any plans of building a gravity-fed water system. There is a water council in each part of the community, with 6 members in Eden, 8 in Tamagas, and 5 in Nueva Montañita, though they all need more training and leadership.
El Eden does not have a health center in the community. The nearest health center is located in Santa Lucia, about a 30-minute walk, and Islia Hernandez is the nurse. There is no basic sanitation committee and dentistry is not available in the community. Occasionally fluoride treatments for kids are provided by Hospital San Felipe in Tegucigalpa.
The most common illnesses seen by community members are the respiratory problems, high blood pressure, and malnourishment in children. Approximately 80% of the community is estimated to have latrines that currently function. Approximately 50% of houses in El Eden, and 20% in el Tamagas have eco-stoves (estufas justas); most people have normal stoves with a chimney. About 70% is estimated to have cement floors and 10% between the 3 communities to have pilas (water storage units).
I. Annual Morbidities, 2009: CESAMO-Santa Lucia
|
Rank |
Morbidity |
Number of Cases/ |
|
1 |
Pharyngotonsillitis |
1108 / 34.4% |
|
2 |
Common cold |
526 / 16.3% |
|
3 |
Diarrheas |
225 / 7.0% |
|
4 |
Sexually Transmitted Infections |
189 / 5.9% |
|
5 |
Urinary infections |
175 /5.4% |
|
6 |
Intestinal Parasites |
133 / 4.1% |
|
7 |
Skin/Hair Fungus |
103 / 3.2% |
|
8 |
Acid Peptic Disorders |
92 / 2.8% |
|
9 |
Hypertension |
82 / 2.5% |
|
10 |
Conjunctivitis |
72 / 2.2% |
Centro de Salud Statistics, Centro de Salud Regional-Francisco Morazán, 16 Marzo 2010
II. Caserios (small villages) served by CESAMO-Santa Lucia, 2009
|
Caserios |
Population |
Number of Homes |
Potable Water (%) |
Latrines (%) |
Malnourished Children |
Births/ % Coverage of Pregnancies |
Order of Priority (based on HC standards) |
|
Santa Lucia |
3,744 |
728 |
100 |
90 |
5 |
21 / 67% |
5 |
|
Zarabanda |
830 |
176 |
100 |
90 |
3 |
6 / 20% |
4 |
|
Pitos |
50 |
31 |
60 |
80 |
0 |
0 / 0% |
2 |
|
El Eden* |
500 |
114 |
80 |
40 |
1 |
3 / 21% |
4 |
|
Tamagaz |
90 |
18 |
80 |
80 |
0 |
0 / 0% |
1 |
|
Loma A Sur |
303 |
63 |
100 |
100 |
0 |
2 / 25% |
4 |
|
Quebrada Honda |
130 |
26 |
100 |
100 |
0 |
1 / 14% |
4 |
|
Santa Elena |
90 |
17 |
100 |
100 |
0 |
0 / 0% |
4 |
|
Sabaneta |
185 |
36 |
100 |
100 |
0 |
1 / 25% |
4 |
|
Los Planes |
90 |
17 |
100 |
100 |
0 |
1 / 50% |
4 |
|
Agua Dormida |
50 |
12 |
100 |
95 |
0 |
0 / 0% |
4 |
|
Cipres |
35 |
8 |
100 |
100 |
0 |
1 / 100% |
3 |
Centro de Salud Statistics, Centro de Salud—Santa Lucia 18 May 2010
*Global Brigades also works in these communities with medical brigades.
The average family income per month is estimated to be 2800 Lempiras, which is approximately L560 (US $28.00) per person3. The majority of homes are made of adobe. The main form of employment in the El Eden is agricultural work on both rented and owned land and the main products cultivated are corn, coffee, cabbage, lettuce, potatoes, carrots, tomatoes, and beets. Members of El Eden have little to no access to credit from outside lenders. They do not have a community bank, though they would be interested in forming one in the near future; there is, however, a cooperative in Tamagas.
World Vision is currently working in the community looking into the drilling of a well for the construction of a water system. As well, their children’s sponsoring program is in place in the community.
El Eden is a notably productive agricultural community tucked away in the mountains of Santa Lucia. Despite the potential for agricultural growth, the road access proves difficult to maneuver and transport goods for sale.
|
Education |
11th |
|
Water |
13th |
|
Health |
39th |
|
Socio-economics |
39th |
|
Collaboration |
47th |
|
Overall |
13th |
Total communities evaluated: 97
Source of information: Key informant interview, Centro de Salud statistics
Date of interview: 9 October 2012
1The accepted regulation frequency for chlorinating water is every 4 days.
2CESAMO and CESAR are terms used for types of health centers. CESAMOs are larger, more comprehensive facilities that usually have a physician on staff at all times and occasionally a dentist. CESARs are more remote, less equipped facilities, usually with
1-2 nurses on staff.
3According to Red Solidaria and World Food Programme in Honduras, the average family is approximated at 5 people per household, the poverty line is L930 (US$49.23) per person per month, and the extreme poverty line is L617 (US$32.66) per person per month.