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Honduras
COUNTRY BACKGROUND Honduras is one of the three poorest and one of the most highly indebted countries in the Americas. More than 35% of the population lives on less than $2 a day. Roughly 80% of the population is not insured by the Secretariat of Health, the Honduran Social Security Institute or the private sector, forcing most to pay for medical attention out-of-pocket or forgo health insurance altogether. In addition to prevalent communicable diseases like malaria, tuberculosis and STDs, there has been a significant rise in diabetes and hypertension. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that cancer statistics are also rising, which correlates with the lack of access to treatment for chronic diseases. GLOBAL MEDICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM Medical Assistance Extends Care for Indigent Patients at More Than 150 Institutions Through our Global Medical Assistance Program, we send medicines and medical supplies to more than 150 health and social service institutions throughout the country including hospitals, clinics, AIDS hospices, nursing homes, nutritional centers, domestic abuse help centers, alcohol and drug rehabilitation centers, and children’s homes. Medicines are distributed through the urban centers of Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula as well as rural areas throughout the country, where 60% of the population lacks access to essential medicines, according to the WHO. Among the many hospitals receiving our support through the Order of Malta, two of our largest and longest-standing beneficiaries — going back 20 years — are the Hospital Torax and Hospital San Felipe. AmeriCares donations of items such as antibiotics, cardiovascular medications and hospital supplies help these facilities to extend diagnosis, treatment and disease management to poor patients. Originally a Tuberculosis hospital, Hospital Torax is a 211-bed facility located in the capital Tegucigalpa, which now specializes in the treatment and care of patients living with HIV/AIDS, cardiovascular disease and pulmonary problems. Hospital Torax is the only tertiary care facility of its kind in Honduras. Hospital San Felipe is a 409-bed center that offers a wide range of tertiary services including ophthalmology, urology, obstetrics and gynecology, oncology and physical rehabilitation, and is home to a national diabetes center. The hospital fields more than 1,000 patient visits per day with individuals arriving from all regions of the country. The diabetes center focuses not only on medical treatment of diabetes but also patient education and preventative care. EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROGRAM Emergency Response for Major Hurricanes |
