Aguas Frias #2, Panama
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General Information
| Population* | 1,200 |
| Number of homes | 600 |
| Avg # of people per home | 2 |
| Electricity | Yes |
| Corregimiento | Santa Fe |
| District | Chepigana |
| Corresponding Health Center | Centro de Salud – Torti |
| Distance from compounds | 1 hour from El Palmar |
| Road conditions | Average |
* 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 community has expressed several strengths. Many craftswomen live in the community and
dedicate their time to making traditional artisan crafts. In addition, there is a strong agricultural
sector run primarily by the men. The community has also expressed a desire to improve its community's water, its access to healthcare, and public health.
The education system is Aguas Frias has one school: a school in the center of the community that caters to children between the grades of Kindergarten and 9th grade. The school has 19 teachers, 9 classrooms, and 170 students. The school has the following facilities: a kitchen, a dining room, a teachers' office, a library, a playground, and a computer room. Any students that wish to continue their education beyond 9th grade must travel to Santa Fe or Torti to attend a secondary school.
Aguas Frias has a functioning water system and a water committee that is in charge of maintaining it. The water system is run by gravity aqueducts. The water system does not always work, however; during the dry season, the Aguas Frias community may only have access to running water 2-3 times out of the week. 2 of the members of the water committee are responsible for periodically chlorinating the water system to purify it. Additionally, some community members add chlorine to their water in their homes. The community members pay a monthly cost of $0.50-$1.00 to use the water system.
Aguas Frias does not have a health center or access to dental care. The nearest health centers are in Santa Fe and Torti. Additionally, community members may travel to El Tirao for vaccinations. The most common medical ailments in Aguas Frias are diarrhea, vomiting, and common colds. Only 60% of the homes in Aguas Frias have cement floors.
The majority of houses in Aguas Frias are constructed with wood, cinder blocks, zinc, and palm leaves. Approximately, half of the community currently has employment; of those employed workers, half of them work in agriculture. The farmers in Aguas Frias typically produce beans, corn, yucca (a root similar to potatoes once cooked), and yams. Many other workers are employed by the cattle ranching industry.
The community's primary sources of credit in the region are a farming development bank and a national bank in Torti. The established businesses in Aguas Frias are a grocery store, a mini-market, a gas station, a hostel, a cantina, and a restaurant.
Aguas Frias community members dispose of the garbage by placing it at a nearby dump site. There are no recycling options available in the community.
There is no legal aid structure available in Aguas Frias; the closest source of legal assistance is in Meteti. The majority of the community's legal issues involve pensions and divorces. A little over half of the community has land titles.
Aguas Frias does not have a central meeting place for community meetings. The community does not have a political representative that lives in their community.
Other than Global Brigades, the only non-governmental organization working in Aguas Frias is Pro Niños de Darien.
Currently, only Medical/Dental and Human Rights brigades help work with Aguas Frias.
Source of information: Key informant interview and 2010 government census
Date of interview: November 15th, 2013
Last Visited: February 18, 2014
Last Updated: February 28, 2014