Bridging the Gap in Healthcare Access

As word of a "tripledemic" continues to spread, hospitals in the Americas and Europe are already feeling the strain of increased cases of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza, and COVID-19 infections. Pediatric hospitals, in particular, are already at or near capacity. 

In Honduras, respiratory illnesses, like pneumonia, are the leading cause of death among children aged five and under living in rural areas. There is little to no access to health care in most communities, with distance, cost, and transportation being major barriers. Rural Hondurans seeking care for themselves or their children must walk long distances or get a ride to a clinic, most often only to find it full when they arrive. 

For families in rural Honduras, illnesses that would normally be easy to treat are fatal.

"We have seen so much change because there were so many cases of illness before. And now, with our care, they are being cured with medications and treated with antibiotics for different infections. When the patients return after treatment, they are healthy. When we provide the children with acetaminophen, they usually recover and do not need to return." - Antonia Montoya

We are determined to change this. 

The health clinics built by the Brigade, as well as the community health workers who are trained to work in them, are successfully bridging the gap in healthcare access for rural Hondurans. With basic health services and life-saving medications only steps away, families in these communities have seen tremendous gains in their overall health. Building on this progress, community health workers also focus on preventative health care, providing education on hygiene, sanitation, clean water, and disease prevention.

Across Honduras, the rural areas are home to 41% of the population.* Currently, our health clinics provide essential health services for nearly 5,000 people in 12 villages. While there is still much work to be done, the results we have seen provide inspiration for all that is possible when we bridge the gap in healthcare access.