2. HondurasHonduras
Population 7.9
million
0-14 years: 38.1%0-14 years: 38.1%
15-64 years: 58.3%15-64 years: 58.3%
65 years and over: 3.6%65 years and over: 3.6%
Median age: 20.3 yearsMedian age: 20.3 years
59% of population at or59% of population at or
below poverty linebelow poverty line
Infant mortality: 21.04Infant mortality: 21.04
deaths/1,000 live birthsdeaths/1,000 live births
6 physicians & 2 dentists6 physicians & 2 dentists
per 10,000 population (evenper 10,000 population (even
less in rural areas)less in rural areas)
3. NicaraguaNicaragua
Population 6
million
0-14 years: 33.8%
15-64 years: 62.9%
65 years and over: 3.3%
Median age: 22.5
48% of population at or48% of population at or
below poverty linebelow poverty line
• Infant mortality: 24.16
deaths/1,000 live births
• 4 physicians & 1 dentist per
10,000 population (even less in
rural areas)
4. Challenges for VolunteersChallenges for Volunteers
Physical, emotional & intellectual demandsPhysical, emotional & intellectual demands
Need to remain flexible &Need to remain flexible &
non-judgmentalnon-judgmental
Avoid the “ugly American” labelAvoid the “ugly American” label
Sensitivity to cultural differencesSensitivity to cultural differences
5. Cultural DifferencesCultural Differences
Different concept of personal spaceDifferent concept of personal space
(people tend to stand closer than(people tend to stand closer than
Americans are used to)Americans are used to)
Do not assume “sameness”Do not assume “sameness”
““Familiar” behavior can haveFamiliar” behavior can have
different meaningsdifferent meanings
Different attitude towards problemsDifferent attitude towards problems
6. Diet, Health & AttitudeDiet, Health & Attitude
Poor food productivity & low incomes lead to a
very low standard of living in rural areas. Typical
diet consists of tortillas, beans (main source of
protein), rice, cassava, plantains & coffee, with
only occasional supplements of meat or fish.
Although pigs & chickens are widely raised, meat
is infrequent in rural diets, as are green
vegetables.
Widespread malnutrition complicates the
population’s fragile health.
7. AttitudesAttitudes
Most of the population do not relate their healthMost of the population do not relate their health
problems to their real causes (malnutrition,problems to their real causes (malnutrition,
environmental hazards, etc.)environmental hazards, etc.)
Much of the population on a continuouslyMuch of the population on a continuously
inadequate diet, not dramatic shortage of foodinadequate diet, not dramatic shortage of food
People fail to relate disease, illness, lowPeople fail to relate disease, illness, low
productivity to poor diet & lack of sanitationproductivity to poor diet & lack of sanitation
Because these problems always existed,Because these problems always existed,
they tend to be accepted as normal.they tend to be accepted as normal.
8. Other Cultural DifferencesOther Cultural Differences
Primacy of tight, intimate emotional relationships withPrimacy of tight, intimate emotional relationships with
family and close friends.family and close friends.
Sense of life’s unpredictability and role of destino (fate).Sense of life’s unpredictability and role of destino (fate).
Tendency toward hierarchy and stratification of socialTendency toward hierarchy and stratification of social
structure.structure.
Importance attributed to physical looks, clothes, style,Importance attributed to physical looks, clothes, style,
dignity, social graces as way of indicating one’s place indignity, social graces as way of indicating one’s place in
society.society.
Less attention given to punctuality and “efficient andLess attention given to punctuality and “efficient and
productive” time use than to immersing oneself into lifeproductive” time use than to immersing oneself into life
itself.itself.
9. Arrival –Arrival – from the airport in Honduras, we go to thefrom the airport in Honduras, we go to the
warehouse to get supplies & pack the truckwarehouse to get supplies & pack the truck
10. The First Night at the HotelThe First Night at the Hotel
LuxuryLuxury
accommodationsaccommodations
you won’t likelyyou won’t likely
see again untilsee again until
week’s end.week’s end.
Sometimes we stay
overnight in a hotel
en-route to our work
site.
19. Villagers live with their farm animalsVillagers live with their farm animals
Ear plugs are helpful for sleepingEar plugs are helpful for sleeping
Roosters don’t crow at dawn; they start muchRoosters don’t crow at dawn; they start much
earlierearlier
29. Pharmacy ChallengesPharmacy Challenges
Set up Pharmacy in less than 3 hoursSet up Pharmacy in less than 3 hours
Instruct illiterate patientsInstruct illiterate patients
Adapt prescriptions to a limitedAdapt prescriptions to a limited
formularyformulary
Different names for familiar drugsDifferent names for familiar drugs
High volume of patientsHigh volume of patients
30. Community PartnershipsCommunity Partnerships
Working with communities, assessing theirWorking with communities, assessing their
needs and helping them achieve longneeds and helping them achieve long
lasting improvements in the health andlasting improvements in the health and
well being of their citizens.well being of their citizens.
Education for community health volunteersEducation for community health volunteers
and in the schoolsand in the schools
Infrastructure projectsInfrastructure projects
Working with local physicians and hospitalsWorking with local physicians and hospitals
33. Working with local physiciansWorking with local physicians
and hospitalsand hospitals
Expansion of Galvez Hospital in Gracias
Training of hospital staff
34. Often the final day is free forOften the final day is free for
sightseeing & shoppingsightseeing & shopping
The Mayan ruins at Copan
35. Despite All The Hardships, It’sDespite All The Hardships, It’s
Worth ItWorth It