Helping Honduran Families in the time of Covid-19
Rene Castro and Marta Linares, members of the Chol Health Committee, receive the VH sanitation supplies for protection against COVID-19.
How is SVH collaborating with communities to address the pandemic?
Distributing bio-security health kits to communities in Spring 2020
Advising community health committees on fumigation of homes
Continuing to provide guidance to health communities
Bringing medical doctor to address concerns of community resident
Early Action Effective in Developing Emergency Response
SVH brought disinfectant to spray on the walls and roofs of many SVH community houses.
The first case of Covid-19 in Honduras was announced on March 16. Roy took part in the Chinda committee responsible for drawing up its emergency plan. At the same time Roy and his team identified funds in the 2020 budget etc. Using some of these funds, Roy bought supplies for “bio-security” kits. The essential supplies were chlorine, huge backpacks with sprayers, masks, and gloves.
After the initial delivery of biosecurity supplies in March, Roy was not able to drive into the communities from April to mid September months. He and Idania stayed in communication with families and community leaders to provide advice on crops and on the management of the pandemic.
This is a post on the Facebook page of Mayor Mirian of Chinda, Santa Barbara, thanking Vecinos Honduras, the partner of SVH in Honduras.
Vecinos Honduras Receives Recognition for its Response to Pandemic
Using SVH program funds that were reprogrammed in an emergency response in communities, Roy bought supplies for ‘bio-security kits.’ The essential tools were huge backpacks with sprayers, masks and gloves. On April 17 Roy received permission to deliver these supplies to the community health communities.
Mirian Lopez, the Chinda mayor, posted a public thanks to Vecinos Honduras with photos on Facebook that feature Roy delivering health supplies.
Covid Fighters: Women Lead the Way
Candida Murillo, President of the Health Committee of La Majada reviews the new brochure on COVID-19 to educate about protecting against COVID-19.
Health committees bear the chief responsibility for carrying out the government instructions to prevent the spread of the pandemic. With one exception these committees are headed by women. Two hundred eighty one homes have been disinfected. People must stay-at-home or wear masks and observe social distancing rules when they leave home. There are checkpoints at the entrance of each communities to control the population that enters and leaves.
Achieving acceptance of these rules has required health committees to engage the leadership of other organizations in the communities including the town council (patronato), agricultural committees formed by local farmers, groups set up to provide oversite of during emergencies, and the parents of the students of the primary and secondary schools.
SVH Brings Covid-19 Facts to the Communities
On Saturday mornings in September 2020 a medical doctor made a Covid -19 presentation in 3 different SVH communities. Attendance was high because there were several cases of Covid-19 in Chinda.
Doctor Armando Ordoñez is recognized as an expert in both Chinda and the department of Santa Barbara. He made a presentation and then answered questions. These sessions were attended by more than 30 leaders…proof that people are hungry for reliable information about the pandemic. Roy and Idania organized these sessions.
Not only the audience benefited from these sessions. The doctor now has information about community concerns that should be addressed by officials. Roy and Idania know what steps would make the SVH Covid-19 response program more effective. The intense work to organize these community meetings paid off in many ways.