Tomatín, Honduras
Click on Programs to learn more about their work in this community
General Information
| Population* | 250 |
| Number of homes | 60 |
| Avg # of people per home | 5 |
| Primary Occupations | Agriculture - maize, beans, sugarcane factory |
| Water System | Yes |
| Community Bank | Yes |
| % of Homes with Latrines | 80% |
| Electricity | Yes |
| Corresponding Health Center & Distance | CESAMO Cantarranas, 40 minutes walking |
| Common Illnesses | Hypertension, Flu and Cough, Asthma, |
| School Access and Distance | Preschool-6th grade, ~10-15 min walk |
| Municipality | Cantarranas |
| Department | Francisco Morazán |
| Distance from compounds | 1 hour and 20 minutes |
*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 more sources of employment, a better water system, and a water drainage system.
The Centro Básico from 1st to 6th grade is in the community and has between 45 students. It has 3 teachers - one for kindergarten (10 students) and 2 for 1st through 6th grade and 3 school rooms. To go beyond 6th grade, they have to travel to the local municipality in Cantarranas. This is about 40 minutes away on foot.
This community has a water project that was built by the local government in 2002. It connects to all of the houses but could use some repairs. It is a gravity system and is supposed to be chlorinated in the main storage tank. However, because the local plumber who normally chlorinates the water is charging too much, they have stopped chlorinating the water and have to boil it or chlorinate it in their homes to purify it. One of their main needs is repairs to the water system.
Tomatin does not have a health center in the community. The cloest center is in the local municipalty of Cantarranas, about 40 minutes away walking. The health center is a CESAMO, or the larger of the two different types of health centers that the Honduran government provides. It has a doctor on staff at all times as well as nurses, and even occasionally may have a dentist on staff. The most common illnesses in this community are respiratory issues, the common cold, asthma, and high blood pressure.
The basic income comes from corn, beans, and banana production. Some community members also work in the sugar cane company based in Cantarranas or move to other communities during coffee season.
In 2009, Tomatín and Global Brigades established their community bank, "Cubas Tomatín." The community bank offers access to membership, savings accounts, loans, and the purchase of fertilizers, pesticides, and corn. Loans are available for agriculture (purchase of pesticides and fertilizers, etc.), small business, and emergency.
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These are some pictures of the school where the clinic will be set up during your clinic days.