Miravalle, Honduras
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General Information
| Population* | 242 |
| Number of homes | 52 |
| Avg # of people per home | 4.7 |
| Number and % of children |
(0-5yrs): 35/14.4% (0-9yrs): 69/28.5% |
| Electricity | Yes |
| GPS |
N 14° 14.604' W 86° 57.651' |
| Municipality | San Juan de Flores |
| Department | Francisco Morazán |
| Corresponding Health Center | CESAR-Zarzal |
| Distance from compounds | 40 minutes |
| Road conditions | Good, except for large river that separates community from main roads during rainy season |
* 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 a way of crossing the river even during rainy season, road infrastructure, and a kindergarten.
Miravalle’s educational system includes Kinder and Primary schools (until 6th grade). There are 54 students and Karen Aguilar is the school director. It is approximated that about 75-100% of the community knows how to read and write.
Miravalle has a water system that was re-constructed by the government in 2007. The system is functioning well and water arrives every day. The water is chlorinated once a week1 and about 100% of homes are connected to the water system. There is a Water Council with 4 active members, led by Venancio Palma.
Miravalle does not have a health center in the community. The nearest health center is in Zarzal, located about a 2-hour walking distance, and is staffed by nurse Oralita Benitez. Dental care is not available in the community or at the health center. There was a basic sanitation committee made up of 2 members and led by Maria Lidia Hernandez, but it is no longer active.
Currently, Global Brigades and Oralita have selected Miravalle as one of the next communities for implementing GB’s Community Health Workers (Guardianes de Salud) program. Training will start in June 2010 for selected community members to serve as local health workers.
The most common illnesses seen by community members are respiratory infections, skin infections, and hypertension. Approximately 88% of the community is estimated to have latrines that currently function. 25-50% has eco-stoves (estufas justas). About 25-50% is estimated to have concrete floors.
Though there is no health data available at the community level for Miravalle, below are health statistics from CESAR-Zarzal2 which serves Miravalle:
I. Annual Morbidities, 2009: CESAR-Zarzal
|
Rank |
Morbidity |
Number of Cases (2009) |
|
1 |
Common Cold |
184 |
|
2 |
Intestinal Parasites |
135 |
|
3 |
Cervicitis |
94 |
|
4 |
Urinary Infection |
86 |
|
5 |
Pharyngotonsillitis |
75 |
|
6 |
Anemia |
62 |
|
7 |
Skin infections |
50 |
|
8 |
Acid Peptic Disorders |
44 |
|
9 |
Skin Allergies |
34 |
|
10 |
Hypertension |
31 |
Centro de Salud Statistics, Centro de Salud Regional-Francisco Morazán, 16 Marzo 2010
II. Caserios (small villages) served by CESAR-Zarzal, 2009
|
Caserios |
Population |
Number of Homes |
Potable Water (%) |
Latrines (%) |
Malnourished Children (<5yrs) |
Births/ % Coverage of Pregnancies |
Order of Priority (based on HC standards) |
|
ZARZAL* |
285 |
75 |
100 |
100 |
NA |
3/27% |
5 |
|
Cofradia* |
304 |
80 |
100 |
100 |
NA |
5/63% |
6 |
|
Guaricayan* |
185 |
22 |
100 |
77 |
NA |
4/100% |
10 |
|
Yamaguare* |
244 |
60 |
100 |
100 |
NA |
2/50% |
8 |
|
Miravalle* |
242 |
50 |
100 |
100 |
NA |
5/46% |
10 |
|
San Luis |
197 |
40 |
100 |
100 |
NA |
2/50% |
12 |
Centro de Salud Statistics, Centro de Salud Regional-Francisco Morazán, 24 March 2010
*Global Brigades also works in these communities with medical brigades.
(NA) = Not Available Data
The average family income per month is estimated to be 2400 Lempiras, which is an approximate average of L480 (US $25.41) per person3. The majority of homes are made of adobe. The main form of employment is agriculture on rented land, and the main products that are cultivated in the community are corn and beans. Members of Miravalle have access to credit through microloans offered through FINCA. They do not have a community bank, though would be interested in forming one in the future.
Miravalle has been receiving medical brigades from Global Brigades as well as the Episcopal Church, most recently in February 2010. Aanglidesh, the Development Ministry of the Episcopal Church, has been working in Miravalle with eco-stoves (estufas justas), community organization, and school support. In 2007, when SANAA reconstructed the water system, they also built new latrines.
Miravalle is one of several communities served by CESAR-
Zarzal, whose local nurse has been very collaborative with Global Brigades in the recent past. GB’s Community Health Workers program has selected this as a new community for CHW training in 2010 which demonstrates commitment and collaboration with GB’s work. This community has worked with several organizations with development projects. One unique challenge that Miravalle faces is the geographic barrier of the river during rainy season. Community members often have no way to pass the river and are therefore confined to their community during those months.
|
Education |
47th |
|
Water |
89th |
|
Health |
18th |
|
Socio-economics |
56th |
|
Collaboration |
35th |
|
Overall |
44th |
Total communities evaluated: 97
Source of information: Key informant interview, Centro de Salud statistics
Date of interview: 18 March 2010
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.