La Martillada, Panama
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General Information
| Population* | 300 |
| Number of homes | 80 |
| Number people per home |
4-5 |
| Electricity | No |
| Corregimiento | Toabre |
| District | Penonome |
| Corresponding Health Center | Centro de Salud in Toabre |
| Distance from compounds | 1 hour |
* 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 Needs Expressed
The top needs expressed by the key community members are improvements to the school and church, the water system, and access to the Panamerican Highway.
La Martillada has one school located at the center of the community. The school is a primary school and teaches children between the grades of Kindergarten and 6th grade. The school currently has 55 students and 2 teachers. The school has three classrooms, a kitchen, a dining room, and a library. If children wish to continue their education beyond the 6th grade, they must travel to the secondary schools in Toabre or Caimito.
La Martillada's water system is maintained by a water committee of the community members. The 7 members of the committee meet three times per year. The president of the committee, Isabel Ojo, is responsible for chlorinating the water system every three months.
The water system is a gravity system, which means the source of the water is at a higher elevation that the community. The source is approximately an hour and a half walk away from the community. The water system was constructed around 1980. During the dry season, the system is not always able to provide water the community members.
All of La Martillada is connected to the community water system. The community members papy $1.00 per month to receive its benefits.
La Martillada does not have its own health center from the Ministry of Health. Any sick community members must travel to the communities of Toabre or Caimito to be seen by a healthcare professional; this trip to the neighboring towns costs the community members approximately 2 dollars and takes an hour, if they go by bus.
The most commonly reported illnesses in La Martillada are common colds, high blood pressure, diarrhea, and vomiting.
The health center in Toabre establishing a clinic in La Martillada every 4 months to do check-ups on the community's children.
Only 40% of the community members in La Martillada have cement floors in their homes.
The homes in La Martillada are typically constructed of cement blocks, zinc metal sheets, wood, and palm leaves.
The majority (approximately 80%) of the community works in agriculture and cattle ranching. La Martillada produces corn, rice, and yuca.
The community does not have any access to financial institutions like banks for savings accounts or credit accounts. There is only one business in La Martillada: a small store that sells necessities to the community members.
The community members of La Martillada have some training in environmental conservation. The Environmental Conservation group in Panama and the Peace Corps both advocate for environmental conservation in the area.
There is no legal training currently available in La Martillada. For any legal conflicts, community members must travel to the town of Penonome. The community leaders report that there has not been many legal conflicts in the community in the past.
La Martillada has one councillor living in the community: Roberto Ojo.
La Martillada also has support from the Environmental Conservation group and the Peace Corps.
La Martillada is excited to receive its first brigade from the medical and dental chapters of the University of Arizona!
Source of Information: Key informants interview November 29, 2013
Last Updated: February 27, 2014