Health and Medical Information for Honduras
Travel tips for your trip to Honduras Hotel Maps Famous Places in Honduras helps you to make your trip to Honduras in the holiday a Splendid One
Honduras is a country in Central America, located northeast of El Salvador and sitting in between Guatemala and Nicaragua. The capital and most populated city is Tegucigalpa, having just over 1 million people living in the city. Other populated areas include San Pedro Sula, La Ceiba, Copan, and Lempira. The country has an area of 112,090 square kilometers and a population of approximately 7.8 million people. Having the second largest coral reef in the world, Honduras is hoping to emerge as a tourist destination for scuba diving. In the meantime, the country is faced with challenges brought by poverty and political instability.
The Honduran healthcare system is not on par with western standards, which has collectively been a result of an unstable Government, mismanagement and poor coordination of public health care programs. As listed by the World Health Organization, the health care system in Honduras is further compounded by various challenging factors such as limited training resources in public health, inequality of health care access, poor health information systems, and social violence.
Frequent and severe hurricanes add further challenges to this developing country. 'Hurricane Mitch' swept through Honduras in 1998, leaving the country completely devastated; claiming over 6,500 lives and leaving 1.5 million people displaced. Torrential rain resulted in landslides wiping out around 25 villages and 33,000 houses. 70 to 80 percent of Honduras' transportation infrastructure was destroyed, including bridges and roads. Thousands of buildings and houses were also damaged including 123 healthcare facilities. More recently, the 2005 tropical storm 'Gamma' killed more than 30 people and left tens of thousand people homeless.
Over half of the country’s population is confined to rural areas. This is a concern as public services and government presence within rural Honduras is very limited and basic. Health care is provided by medical clinics, which are spread out sparingly and provide only basic medical care. Some areas in rural Honduras are very remote, having virtually no presence of health care facilities.
Quality of medical care and access to resources are reflected by the individual's economic status and geographic location in Honduras. While health care services are confined to the urban areas, these facilities, whether private or public, are generally not on par with western medicine standards. Travel is required for those living in rural areas and overseas evacuation to the US is necessary if there is a serious health condition or medical emergency. Further to this, health care costs in the US are regarded as one of the most expensive places in the world to receive treatment. Adequate healthcare in Honduras therefore comes at a high cost. As such, expats are highly recommended to obtain an international health insurance policy that includes coverage for evacuation and repatriation in the event of a medical emergency.
Private healthcare facilities offer the best level of medical care within Honduras however shortages of modern medical equipment and specialty staff are often experienced. Those who can not afford private health care endure overcrowded public facilities in urban cities, offering only basic medical care. Patients in Honduras, with higher income levels, often travel to the United States if they require complex or specialty treatment such as cardiac surgery or oncology services. Expats should obtain a comprehensive health care plan that includes access to healthcare facilities within Honduras and overseas in the US.
The best hospitals in Honduras are located in the capital city of Tegucigalpa, as well as San Pedro Sula and the Bay Islands. In Tegucigalpa, Hospital Viera is a private facility offering primary health care and inpatient services, including emergency stabilizing care. The Hospital La Policlinica and Hospital Centro Medico are also located in the capital city providing emergency, inpatient, and primary health care. The city of San Pedro Sula has two private facilities including the Hospital Del Valle and the Hospital Centro Medico Sampedrano (CEMESA), both offer adeqaute primary health care and emergency services. Other private hospitals in Honduras include Hospital Vicente D’Antoni located in La Ceiba, and the Wood Medical Centre within Roatan.
AIDS and tuberculosis are highly prevalent in Honduras. Approximately 60 per cent of Central America's HIV/AIDS cases are reported from Honduras. The country relies heavily on foreign assistance. Americares, a US not-for-profit organization, supports the Torax Hospital. Based in Tegucigalpa, the facility provides diagnostic and treatment for HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis patients.
Access to water and basic sanitation are among the country’s most concerning public health issues; lack of potable water leads to a high incidence of water borne disease cases, high infant mortality rates, and low life expectancy in Honduras. Cases of bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever are consistent throughout the year, with major outbreaks during high rainfall. Expats living in Honduras should drink bottled water and practice sterilization methods such as boiling water or chlorination.
Violent crime in Honduras is one of the country’s major social problems, particularly the involvement of youth in violent gangs. Following the election of Carlos Roberto Reina Idiaquez in 1993, the country was promised economic and social reforms, however the situation did not improve and by 2003, under the new election of President Maduro, Government laws were put forward against illicit associations. New laws put many gangs in jails, however violent crime was still a serious problem in Honduras. Despite efforts, Honduras continues to have one of the highest violent crime rates in the world.
Honduras endures frequent and severe outbreaks of Dengue fever, which result in fatalities and the overcrowding of public health care facilities. Particular areas affected are Olancho in the east and Choluteca in the south. However, Dengue fever cases are reported widely across the country. The worst dengue fever outbreak in 30 years occurred in 2010, resulting in more than 66,000 cases and 83 reported deaths from June to December of that year. It is highly important that expats living in Honduras take the necessary precautions in protection against the virus by wearing long sleeved clothing and insect repellent while outdoors; be extra diligent following seasons of high rainfall. Immediate medical attention is required if an individual is displaying the symptoms of Dengue Fever in order to avoid deterioration in their condition.
Scuba diving in the Bay Islands is an increasingly popular activity in the Honduris. However with limited and basic medical facilities, the activity poses a potential risk for people visiting the area. There is a decompression chamber nearby on Roatan and Utila, however in the event of a serious diving accident, medical care is limited on the island. Emergency evacuation will be necessary in the event of a medical emergency. It is therefore highly important that expats take out a health insurance plan which affords them coverage with emergency evacuation and repatriation services.
Expats with respiratory problems, such as asthma, should be particularity cautious during the dry season from February to May, as agricultural burning and forest fires frequently degrade the quality of the air. Expats who experience exacerbation of respiratory symptoms should consult their health care provider.
Health insurance is recommended. There are hospitals in Tegucigalpa and all the large towns. Mosquito nets are recommended for coastal areas.
Food and drink:
All water should be regarded as being potentially contaminated. Water used for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice should first be boiled or otherwise sterilised. Milk is unpasteurised in rural areas and should be boiled. Powdered or tinned milk is available and is advised. Avoid dairy products that are likely to have been made from unboiled milk. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled.
Other risks:
Dengue fever and American trypanosomiasis Chagas disease may occur. Hepatitis B is present. HIV/AIDS is a growing problem.
