San Matías, Jacaleapa, Honduras
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General Information
| Population* | 4858 |
| Number of homes | 1377 |
| Avg # of people per home | 3.5 |
| Electricity | Yes |
| GPS | NA |
| Municipality | San Matías |
| Department | El Paraíso |
| Corresponding Health Center | CESAR-San Matías |
| Distance from compounds | 1.5 hours |
| Road conditions | Good |
* 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.
Expressed Needs and Capacities
The top three needs expressed by the key community members are a new latrine project to replace old ones, a waste management system, and more environmentally-safe stoves.
San Matías’ educational system includes Kinder, Primary, Middle, and High schools (until 12th grade). There are approximately 320 students and Prof. Karla Rodriguez is the school director. It is estimated that between 75-100% of the community knows how to read and write.
San Matías has a water system built by the government around 1980, though it is currently in reconstruction. Once the new water project is complete, water should arrive every day. It is regularly chlorinated every 4 days according to the local nurse.1 They estimate about 96% of the community is connected to the water system. There is a Water Council in the community and Merida Gaitan is the president.
San Matías has a Health Center in the community that offers general medicine and serves 10 other surrounding communities. There is a Community Health Committee made up of 12 members that work directly with the Health Center nurses and Norma Mejia is the leader. Dental care is not available within the community.
The most common illnesses seen at the health center are the common cold, intestinal parasites, and hypertension. Almost 100% of the community has latrines that currently function. 75% has eco-stoves (estufas justas) and about 75% is estimated to have concrete floors.
Below is some available information from the health center CESAR-San Matías2:
I. Caserios (small villages) served by CESAMO-San Matías, 2009
|
Caserios |
Population |
Number of Homes |
Potable Water (%) |
Latrines (%) |
Malnourished Children |
Births/ % Coverage of Pregnancies |
Order of Priority (based on HC standards) |
|
SAN MATÍAS* |
1290 |
357 |
82 |
70 |
11 |
21 / 95% |
3 |
|
Guayacan |
479 |
90 |
72 |
77 |
14 |
5 / 100% |
1 |
|
Agua Caliente |
280 |
35 |
86 |
94 |
4 |
3 / 100% |
4 |
|
Santa Rosa |
210 |
37 |
84 |
84 |
18 |
2 / 40% |
4 |
|
El Espinito |
462 |
73 |
92 |
99 |
5 |
7 / 70% |
4 |
|
Corral falso |
510 |
700 |
89 |
57 |
5 |
11 / 100% |
4 |
|
Robledal* |
628 |
123 |
86 |
85 |
14 |
7 / 47% |
2 |
|
San Francisco |
59 |
11 |
100 |
100 |
0 |
1 / 100% |
6 |
|
La Estancia |
114 |
20 |
100 |
100 |
29 |
1 / 50% |
5 |
|
Los Hoyos |
52 |
7 |
100 |
100 |
0 |
NA |
7 |
|
San Geronimo |
113 |
22 |
86 |
86 |
0 |
1 / 33% |
8 |
Centro de Salud Statistics, Centro de Salud Regional-Danlí, 14 Marzo 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 2100 Lempiras, which is approximately L420 (US $22.23) per person3. The majority of homes are made of adobe. The main form of employment in San Matías is agriculture on owned land and the main products that are cultivated are corn and beans as well as tomatoes, peppers, and watermelon. San Matías has a communal bank and a community bank (caja rural). The community has several microenterprises including a rosquilla and a local pottery business.
San Matías received medical and dental brigades from the Baptist Church in 2008, as well as a latrine project from PRACAGUA in 2002. World Vision is also currently working in San Matías in agricultural projects and in the child sponsorship program.
San Matías is a large community that serves 10 other small surrounding villages. There are several options for accessing credit and forming micro-business and they have had the support of several other organizations.
|
Education |
85th |
|
Water |
60th |
|
Health |
86th |
|
Socio-economics |
81st |
|
Collaboration |
35th |
|
Overall |
95th |
Total communities evaluated: 97
Source of information: Key informant interview, Centro de Salud statistics
Date of interview: 4 February 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.