| Administrative History | Allocations: 1975-1993; programme spending in 1993/94, 1994/95; see later annual reports for any subsequent allocations.
In September 1974, Honduras was struck by Hurricane Fifi, which caused great devastation. SCF relief teams arrived in November and based themselves in Omoa. Rural clinics were set up in the area between Puerto Cortés and the frontier with Guatemala. General clinics were set up in 12 villages. Mobile rural clinics covered a 300 square mile stretch of the North coast. In 1975 SCF set up a mother and child health programme in co-operation with the Save the Children Federation USA.
By 1976 there was a clear move towards preventative medicine, with health visitors making day-to-day visits. A laboratory was opened in Omoa to improve diagnosis. At the same time, there was a clear intention that SCF's work should be a 'pump-priming' exercise that would involve encouraging self-help and could be handed over in a number of years. Support for this programme came from the Commonwealth and Honduras itself. An immunisation programme was also launched. To improve nutrition, soya bean programmes were established in 22 villages. By 1979, there was a concentration on training and supporting village volunteers and auxiliary nurses in basic healthcare and midwifery. With support from the British Columbia SCF, paediatric wings of two hospitals were rebuilt.
Work in northern Honduras was handed over in 1980. At the same time, a new nutrition programme was being set up in Santa Barbara. By 1982, there was close co-operation with government on primary health and nutrition schemes. Village health workers and midwives were being trained. A Nutrition Rehabilitation Unit on the lines of the Khulna project in Bangladesh was running successfully. Work was also being done with Nicaraguan Miskito refugees. In 1983 there were over 650 SCF-trained volunteers working in the Santa Barbara district. Clean water was being provided with Canadian assistance; there was also a vegetable-growing project. By 1986 an expatriate nutritionist was advising on ways of making the programme more effective. A nutrition survey was carried out in 1988. SCF expanded its work in Santa Barbara projects concerning disability, working children, and technical training. In 1998 SCF teams provided emergency relief in response to Hurricane Mitch. |