Portuchada, Panama
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General Information
| Population* | 507 |
| Number of homes | 134 |
| Avg # of people per home | 3.7 |
| Electricity | |
| Corregimiento | Meteti |
| District | Pinogana |
| Corresponding Health Center | Centro de Salud, Meteti |
| Distance from compounds | 2 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.
Top Needs Expressed
Community members in Portuchada face difficulties in accessing both legal and business assistance. Additionally, the communtiy lacks a functional waste manangement system.
Portuchada is home to a basic school from kindergarten to 9th grade. About 300 students attend this school, with 15 teachers. The school has 13 classrooms, as well as a comedor, or central eating area. The school also includes a library and computer lab.
Portuchada uses a gravity-based aquaduct system for water in the community. The aquaduct is run and maintained by the Water Committee, which is made up of seven community members. All houses in the community are connected to this system, at the cost of $2/month. However, only approximately 50% of the community pays for this service. The community does not frequently suffer water shortages, but they do have occasional difficulties with the tubing during the highly rainy season. Neither community members nor the Water Committee chlorinate the water; some members boil or use sand filters to clean their water.
Currently Portuchada does not have its own health center; the closest health centers are located in Meteti or Yaviza. No health care professionals live in Portuchada, nor is dental care access located nearby. The common cold, gastrointenstinal infections, and fever are the illnesses most commonly suffered by the community members. About 95% of family homes have stoves and cement floors, but only 10% have hygenic latrines. Nearly all homes have a water filter to purify their drinking and cooking water.
The majority (70%) of Portuchada works in agriculture, commonly producing rice and corn. Others work as technicians and artisans. Most of the homes in Portuchada are built with wood walls and metal roofs. Although community members can fairly easily access the National Bank, they face challenges when seeking credit both outside and inside the community.
Portuchada currently lacks a waste management system as well as water management education. Community members burn their trash, and no Environmental Committee is in place.
Portuchada does not currently have access to legal assistance, and no lawyers live in the community. Approximately 50-75% of community members have land titles for their property.
No other organizations work in Portuchada at this time.
Medical/Dental and Human Rights Brigades work in Portuchada.
Source of information: Key informant interview and 2010 government census
Date of interview: November 2013
Last updated: December 2013