Public Health refers to all organized measures to prevent disease, promote health, and prolong life among a population as a whole. Its activities aim to provide conditions in which people can be healthy and focus on entire populations, not just on individual patients or diseases (WHO).

 

Our Public Health department works in conjunction with the Medical Brigade to help evaluate and discover health risks in a community, focusing primarily on illness prevention and control. In order to develop health advocates within the community, in 2012 we developed a program of health promoters called “Promotores de Salud.” This is a local group of community-elected volunteers that work as health educators and health promoters. This group of individuals monitor chronic conditions of patients in their community, evaluate home safety environments, and serve as a resource for patients without access to care. Currently there are 20 health promoters serving 5 communities in Naranjito, Honduras. “Promotores de Salud” receive semi-annual intensive training courses with a curriculum that includes health education, public speaking, team building and community organizing.