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Monday, August 16, 2004 Online Edition 32 |
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The
Dreaded Droughts
Interview with Aníbal Gamez from COPECO
It has been a few months since the drought season began in Honduras. This time more people and communities were severely affected, especially in the southern area of the country. In a recent interview with Aníbal Gamez, Director of Operations of the Permanent Commission for Contingencies COPECO, he explained the causes and effects of the droughts that affect Hondurans year by year. When and why do droughts occur? Generally, a drought happens when there is a lack of rain in the affected area. These "irregular winters" are usually produced by "El Niño," which produces droughts, or "La Niña," which produces floods. How do these droughts affect the population? The effects of a draught are countless, but we can mention the most damaging. First of all, the droughts mostly affect those who have high levels of malnutrition, producing illnesses and diseases, even death. Another effect would be the lack of food due to the loss of the crops, not the harvest; in other words, the consumption and selling of these products is also affected. A result of this is the cutting down of forests to subsist from the selling of wood. Milk production
and dairy products also decrease due to the fact that the grass meant
for the nutrition of cattle becomes dry. This happens especially in
Choluteca, on the south side of the country. How can these effects be avoided or prevented? COPECO identifies the areas which are recurrently affected by droughts and develops projects oriented to the prevention and mitigation of these. One of these projects is the building of damns to avoid the weak water retaining systems. The Secretary of Agriculture and several NGO's also help with the implementation of water crops and artesian wells. COPECO also trains the population in the correct and rational usage of water and early harvesting. The latest training deals with the harvesting of nontraditional heat resistant products that can survive the droughts. Some of these products include sesame, sweet potato, and popcorn seeds among others. What role does COPECO play in the prevention of droughts? COPECO is a part of the Multisectoral Committee for the Prevention of Droughts, which is coordinated by the Secretary of Agriculture. When there is a nutritional emergency provoked by a drought, COPECO is in charge of coordinating all the institutions of the alimentary system in the country: World Food Programme, World Vision and other NGO's. The government is the entity that declares the emergency first, COPECO responds and acts as a coordinator to assist and help those affected. Which areas are mostly affected by droughts today? The most affected area is the southern side of the country; Choluteca, Valle, El Paraiso, and the southern municipalities of Francisco Morazan. What mechanisms has the government implemented to avoid or prevent the droughts? The government
has, through the Cabinet of Production, given financial support to
the crop producers and farmers through the National Bank for Agricultural
Development (BANADESA). Train the people living in areas at risk for drought to harvest products resistant to the heat and lack of water. Provide them with
seeds and equipment in order to start an early harvest before the
drought begins.
Strategic Plan for Chagas Disease Control Launched this Week
By ALEJANDRA PAREDES With the presence of the main authorities in the country, the Strategic National Plan for Chagas Control was launched this week in Tegucigalpa. The plan, sponsored by the Honduran Government, the Japan Agency for International Cooperation, the Canadian International Development Agency the Panamerican Health Organisation and World Vision, aims to raise awareness amongst the population in order to control one of the worst vectorial diseases faced by the Honduran people. Chagas illness, dubbed "silent death" in a video presented by World Vision, is caused by two varieties of the Chinche Picuda, as it is called locally. The Rhodnius Prolixus and the Triatoma dimidiata carriers of the parasite Tripanosoma Cruzi usually attack people living in dirt shacks, under conditions of extreme poverty, in areas between 400 and 1600 meters above sea level. At the acute phase, lasting for about a week, the victim suffers from headaches, fever, and swollen eyes. The symptoms will then totally disappear for 5, 10 or 20 years, after which the victim will suffer cardiac insufficiency resulting in death. The main consequences to populations vulnerable to the disease are congestive cardiac insufficiency, high rates of sudden death and the increase of costs for health services. According to Elias Lizardo, Health Minister, an estimate between 250,000 and 350,000 Hondurans living in precarious conditions have been known to carry the disease. For this reason, Chagas disease is currently one of the worst enemies in the Honduran rural and poor urban areas. The insect usually lives in houses that have a dirt floor, mud walls and straw rooftops. The populations who are highly vunerable include the Xicaques and Tolupanes in central region, the Lencas in the southwest region, and the Chortis in the North west region of Honduras. The solutions proposed to control Chagas under the mentioned plan indicate the need to fumigate the homes, to test and treat those suffering the disease, and to gradually provide all those families at risk with dignified homes. A succesful example
of integrated effort has been going on in San Francisco de Opalaca,
Intibuca.
Hospitals Report 22 Cases of Hemorraghic Dengue More than half of the patients are younger than fourteen years old; authorities are beginning to implement contingency plans. TEGUCIGALPA-To the mosquito transmitting dengue fever, it doesn´t matter whether the sufferer is an adult or child. Joseline Lanza understands this fact very well. At barely eight years of age, the bleeding in her nose delineates her probable diagnosis: hemorraghic dengue. Three days ago, the girl was presenting the classic symptoms of dengue fever: muscular pain, fever and headache; but everything worsened when she began to bleed last Sunday. Her mother, Alma Sandres, explained that, "From the moment she began to suffer from the symptoms, we suspected she had dengue, but the worst was when we noticed the bleeding; it scared us a great deal and we decided to take her immediately to the doctor." And More In the whole of Honduras, the number of confirmed cases of this type of dengue fever is 94, of which 53 are children, representing 56% of those who have fallen ill. "If these cases are conclusive, we would be reporting an increase of 30%. At this time last year we only had 27," stated the director of the School Hospital, Merlyn Fernández. He explained that to date they have confirmed 28 cases in that medical center, and 22 suspected of being hemorraghic dengue, raising the count to 50. Measures "I know very well what we need to do to avoid conditions where mosquitoes can reproduce in troughs and barrels. I suspect she caught the illness from a visit she made to a cemetery in the outskirts of the city," said the mother as she watched over her daughter. The authorities of the greatest medical center of the country have announced the implementation at the end of this week of a plan which will confront the spread of the disease which, by the end of the epidemiological week, will probably reach 35 cases. In addition to these measures there is also the assignation of a specific site to attend to patients who suffer from this disease, as well as the allocation of medical personnel, assistants and the necessary medicines. Fernández
commented that the distribution of care to each patient would cost
at least 1,000 Lps. Daily, but he is most worried about the social
cost the disease could produce. Spectacular football In an unimaginable goal frenzy, Honduras humiliated Costa Rica with five to two in the FIFA world cup qualifier played Wednesday August 18th at the Alejandro Morera Soto Stadium in Costa Rica. The National Selection was like a hurricane destroying everything that came in its way. The five goals speak for themselves. The footballers put their soul in the game, which was to prove what team would go to the World Cup in Germany, 2006. The national team's rival had been a clear favorite on their own home court. Even the Honduran fans were heroes, because of their confidence in the bi-colored team; ignoring the economic situation and traveling to Costa Rica to support them. The Honduran national
team was magnificent. It wrote a glorious page in Central-American
football history. The superiority of the "catrachos" (Hondurans)
over the "ticos" (Costa Ricans) was confirmed. They did
not relieve the pressure; the players gave all they had and could
finally say: mission completed five to two. La Tribuna.
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Part I
By HUNTER C. EDEN Both police reports and public opinion show that a much-needed change may at last be occurring as a result of the nationwide struggle for security in Honduras. In this, the first in a series of two articles, Honduras This Week will explore both police and public perceptions of this change as well as lingering doubts regarding personal safety in the country. The second part will discuss police responses to public concerns, as well as PACTO, a new initiative on the part of the Ministry of Security intended to increase funding to law enforcement and community involvement in crime prevention at the same time. A New-Found Optimism "Seven years ago, surveys showed that security was the premier concern for Hondurans," stated Police Subcommissioner Lional Sauceda. "Now it is only fourth, behind such other problems as unemployment and cost of life." The Subcomissioner indicated changes for the better in most areas of law enforcement, and especially regarding the pandemic of gang violence afflicting many of Honduras's large cities. "The problems caused by gangs are controlled 70%," affirmed Sauceda. "The majority of gang leaders are imprisoned in the nation's penal centers. Because of this there is now an environment of greater security in the neighborhoods of the principal cities." More than 60 arrests of gang members occurred this week alone, spurred by the recent reform of Penal Code Article 332, the so-called Anti-Gang Law, which now states that gang members can be imprisoned anywhere from 7 to 12 years over evidence of membership, depending on the group status of the accused. And a substantial number of Hondurans agree. In an impromptu survey of fifteen men and fifteen women in and around Tegucigalpa's central Boulevard Morazon district, 17 of those questioned said that they believed the crime situation to be improving nationwide, 9 saw no change, and only 4 said that it had worsened under the administration of Minister of Security Oscar Alvarez. Of those questioned, 5 were security personnel, 4 of whom said that they saw improvement whereas only 1 indicated that the situation to grown worse. Confidence does seem to be increasing. One man in Tegucigalpa's Multiplaza Mall indicated satisfaction with the attempts of Alvarez and the police to control street crime. "Before there was much killing, but now things have calmed down," he commented. "With the Anti-Gang Law things are getting better. It's not 100%, but it's improving." Engineer Martin Ordoñez echoed his sentiments, stating, "More than 2,000 gang leaders are in prison, and because of that we feel safer. The crimes will continue in jail, but we can feel safer in the streets." Sauceda reassured the public that the days of a lawless, gang-infested Honduras are ending. "The greatest fear of the population at this point is that the incarcerated criminals will leave prison and resume their delinquency," he told Honduras this Week. "But to this fear I say that there is excellent coordination between judicial and law enforcement sectors to prevent crimes against life and property." Doubts You have single mothers who are raising four, six, ten kids and at the same time holding a job, and the machista father is nowhere to be found. Poverty has some effect, of course, but we have always been a poor nation, never a violent one." And yet in a nation with nearly 30% unemployment and a per capita income of just $2600, an economic incentive to crime is difficult to ignore. More disturbingly, some have voiced fears regarding the manner of law enforcement. "The police work well, but human rights are not being respected," one health worker explained, citing the recent prison fire in San Pedro Sula. Her colleague agreed, questioning the efficacy of the new measures. "We can't walk in the street at night because we are afraid," she said. Statistics indicate that a much-needed change is occurring, but for many Hondurans, a feeling of personal safety remains elusive.
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Monday, August 16, 2004 Online Edition 32 |
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Japan donates Equipment to Drill Water Wells in Olancho By ALEJANDRA PAREDES To the sounds of the village of Coyotepe´s school drums, and saluted by a group of children shaking Japanese and Honduran flags, a donation of 3.4 million dollars in equipment and technical assistance was delivered by Japan to carry out a project that will provide with safe water for least seven municipalities in Olancho. The machinery and assistance, presented by the Japanese Embassy and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), was delivered in the presence of top authorities of the Honduran Health Ministry, headed by Health Minister Elias Lizardo, and important members of the Honduran National Congress, the local government and health authorities. The equipment will be destined to benefit from the underground waters that run deep in the Olancho grounds, to fulfill the needs of more than 25,000 people that currently suffer from disease and dehydration due to contaminated or non existent water sources. The drilling of a well in the quaint village is the first of a total of seventy (70) wells to be drilled in nearby communities like Las Lajas, Guayabillas, Zopilotepe, Concordia and Casas Viejas, amongst others. Coyotepe was all dressed up in excitement for the occasion, as locals gathered to watch the ceremony, visibly excited due to the prospect of having a new source fresh water to fill their needs. Cinthia Cámbar is 33 years old and the mother of six children. Until this day, she had to walk all day back and forth to a nearby brook to get water, which often was contaminated. She expressed feeling "very happy" to have a new source of fresh water, which will help her and her numerous family to lead a better life Hajimi Naganuma, business representative from the Japanese Embassy, expressed that "for the Japanese people, the Health sector represents a high priority in the cooperation programs" carried out by his country. The delivery of this donation includes the training of Honduran personnel by Japanese experts who will remain in the field for almost a year until the first phase of the project is completed. Minister Lizardo thanked the Japanese authorities on behalf of President Maduro and the Honduran children, expressing to people of Coyotepe (like Cinthia Cambar) to make rational use of the water, so that the gift that water represents may not be thrown away but appreciated in full. Other cooperation projects recently donated by Japan to the Honduran Health sector include the Chagas disease control program and the donation of a fully equipped new maternity ward that has not been opened yet due to lack of funds from the Honduran government.
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DISTRICT ATTORNEY
GIVES THE ORDER TO CAPTURE EX DIRECTOR OF PRISON The District Attorney of State, Ramon Ovidio Navarro Duarte, presented yesterday a formal subpoena against the ex director of the San Pedro Prison Center, sub-official Elias Aceituno Canaca (55), believed to be responsible for the fire that killed 106 gang members on May 17th. Together with the
subpoena were presentations of 2,000-2,500 pages containing the testimony
of witnesses and technical experts which establishes the causes of the
disaster that took the lives of the "gang members." The document presented at midday yesterday before the Unified Penal Tribunal of San Pedro Sula recounts how the investigations of the District Attorney's Office, which have established that the previous May 17th, between 1:30 and 2:00 in the morning in Cell Block 19 of the prison where 183 members of the "Salvatrucha" gang were incarcerated, a fire started in the upper left part of the access door. The testimony further indicates that the superheating of the conducting wires in an air conditioner functioning in the site provoked the combustion, which expanded with various nearby inflammatory objects, such as boxes, clothing and mattresses that in combination with the oxygen generated by the air vent created the greater part of the fire in this location. Before alarms sounded, penitentiary police Denis Antonio Sevilla and Jose Neptali Garcia, who were stationed at Post-House 6 in front of Cell Block 19, fired shots to call attention to the "death zone." The director heard and called the Corps of Firefighters at 1:55. Meanwhile the warden, upon hearing the noise, left with his keys to open Cell Blocks 3, 4, and 6, thinking that the fire originated in those locations rather than 19, states the subpoena of the District Attorney. The investigations establish that in the place of the fire many prisoners managed to escape to the kitchen, where they turned on an air filter to help them clear the smoke, while others cried for help or fell to the ground asphyxiated, unable to leave due to lack of access or "fear of the guards firing shots." At 2:05 in the morning, Warden Hernandez arrived and opened the padlocks on the primary and secondary doors that give access to Cell-Block 19, but immediately ran out for fear of being attacked. Five minutes later, Aceituno Canaca arrived and ordered the prisoners removed from the "death zone," but the penitentiary police and firefighters likewise feared being assaulted, so the prisoners took charge of putting aside the corpses of their cell-mates. In the interior of Cell-Block 19, which covered 200 square meters, three air conditioners were functioning along with 62 ventilators, one for each cell. The cells were provided with electrical energy directly from the primary lines across from a distribution transformer with the capacity for 100,000 Volts Amp, stated the District Attorney's documents. In the internal installations, the conductor cables were not adequate for the amount of energy each electrical apparatus was consuming, nor were they channeled in any duct that would isolate them from flammable materials and the derivations of the conductors; they were elaborated without using distribution boxes. Additionally, the document establishes that, "The director of the prison is the only person who authorizes the ingress of any electrical apparatus with the exception of the soft drink machines in the kitchen area, which are authorized by the administrator." This charge doesn't bring any control over all the electrical apparatuses that enter the installations, thus the capacity of the transformers to, "escape the authority of the director of the center, who maintained a passive attitude which is aggravated by the fact that he didn't have an contingency plan and yet had knowledge of the risk," adds the court document. The District Attorney's Office alleges that Aceituno Canaca committed first degree homicide in neglecting the responsibilities of his position, which guaranteed the lives of the prisoners along with his responsibility to attend to the safety, administration, and care of the establishment. For his part, the
District Attorney made clear that in the future they would be able to
give the responsibility of the job to other people. "I Did Everything
to Save Them"
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Monday, August 9, 2004 Online Edition 31 |
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The North American Brigade Brings Hope to the Children of Honduras
By VANESSA MOYA For more than 15 years, a North American Brigade of plastic surgeons, collaborating with Honduran doctors, have performed hundreds of cost-free reconstructive surgeries in the Maternity Ward of the Hospital of Tegucigalpa for children lacking monetary resources. The medical team, directed by renown surgeon Dr. Howard Smith, visits our nation four times per year in periods of one to two weeks, and with the support of local plastic surgeons Dr. Juan Carlos Funez and Dr. Omar Mejia performs different types of surgeries, such as lip surgery, cleft palate, and cranio-facial deformities. Another triumph
of Dr. Smith is the creation of a plastic surgery residency where
he trains Honduran personnel to perform other types of operations,
such as microsurgery, hand surgery, and cosmetic surgery. In addition
to the financial support that Dr. Smith brings to the Brigade, he
has made many donations of equipment and surgical material for the
service and training of Honduran doctors. In Honduras, the cause of the great problems many children suffer with congenital deformities is due to grave problems with nutrition that plague the nation.
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IN COLOMBIA-HONDURAN SHIP CAPTURED WITH CARGO OF COCAINE A Honduran ship was captured on the coast of the island of San Andres, Colombia, last Friday with a cargo of 3,800 pounds of cocaine. The vessel, named
Mary Hill, is a cargo ship registered in Honduras with its documentation
in order and a Honduran crew, confirmed the director of the Merchant
Marine, Marco Augusto Hernandez. Hernandez added that the ship was moved to Puerto Castilla with its five crew members and cargo of drugs where they will be dealt with by authorities. At the moment, he has already established the process to follow and judicial authorities will continue the investigation as the vessel stays in custody. "Principally the investigation continues with the crew, and from there it will be known whether the ship's owners have any participation," stated Marco Augusto. This event evidences that the mechanisms of security and protection are functioning, and that at the root these activities were already not happening unnoticed. The capture will spur ship owners to see that they will not be able to operate outside the law. La Tribuna NEW AIRPORT WILL DESTROY ARCHEOLOGICAL AREA IN COPAN According to the coalition in pro of the construction of the airport, the new airport to be built in Rio Amarillo, Santa Rira, Copan will destroy an archeological zone protected by UNESCO. The coalition warned that the Center of World Patrimony of the UNESCO recommended a second sounding of the archeological area where the government has decided to build the airport, exposing the country to an international sanction due to the fact that it is a patrimony of the humanity. According to the members of the coalition, including Monsignor Luis Santos, archbishop of Santa Rosa de Copan, the first sounding recommended by UNESCO presented blunt information about the importance of this archeological area, probably the second after the Mayan acropolis in Copan. Given that, the coalition demands the Honduran Institute of Archeology and History to make the documents, in which UNESCO recommends to find other sites for the construction of the project, public. According to the construction plans presented by the Honduran Institute of Tourism, the airport track in Rio Amarillo will measure only 1,200 meters because 400 meters further are several monticules belonging the Piedras Negras archeological site. Due to this evidence, the members of the coalition, conformed by other 16 organizations represented in the Association of Nongovernmental Organizations and the Chamber of Commerce of Santa Rosa de Copan, could respond to particular interests because of the construction of an airport in the Rio Amarillo area. La Tribuna
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Monday, August 2, 2004 Online Edition 30 |
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Honduras versus Panama - A mismatch? BY LAURA GRIFFITHS As someone who could not really be described as a football lover, this journalist is maybe not the best person to be reviewing the Honduras versus Panama match this week. My football history is as follows: I was lucky enough to be in Lisbon at the time of the Euro 2004, but decided to give up my tickets, or what some would describe as a experience of a lifetime, and head down to the beach instead. I have in the past followed the World Cup, I'm English after all its ingrained in my culture. However, the2002s cup in Japan along with its plus nine hour time difference meant kick off was around 7am, which for me was a non starter. However I took the Honduras versus Panama, friendly match seriously and came equipped with a Honduras T-shirt and an open mind. I had been given strict instructions not to wear jewelry, not to eat anything and be prepared to have beer split all over me. On the journey to the stadium I was starting to get excited about seeing my first live game, and what a better way to start than a international practice match for the world cup qualifier. The game would not be a tense and vital match that I would need to know some background research for, it would be a average game to gently ease me in to the joys of football! The stadium is divided into sections and I had been advised to stay clear of the area the Sol so headed for the more friendly Shadow area. Unfortunately, we entered the Sol section by mistake. With the warnings I had been given, I was surprised to see many young children with their Dad's enjoying the evening. The crowd was unlike English fans, as the stereotype gangs of intoxicated males, were thankfully nowhere in sight. "Birrias, birrias, birrias," could be heard through the chatting between groups of spectators trying to foresee the games result. A comparison was made to me, that Honduras versus Panama was like England versus Wales so Honduras would be a sure winner. After the anthems it was kick off and a cheer could be heard throughout the stadium. The medics as well as the players were kept busy, as the friendly match acquired more and more injuries. Maybe they were due to elaborate dives more than skillful tackles, but I am certainly not one to comment. The thought of sitting through a 90 minute game on concrete did not at first seem appealing, but the first half uneventfully flew by. I was mildly disappointed as I had been hoping to whiteness a goal or two, but with another 45 minutes to go anything could happen. I may have looked
away at a crucial point, but my estimation is that nothing really
did happen. Sadly the whistle was blown and it was all over, it seemed
seconds ago that the 2nd half had started. No goals, no near misses,
no yellow/red cards, but a memorable experience to say the least,
that I thoroughly enjoyed. We wish the Honduran team good luck for
the qualifying matches and as for me, I am currently looking into
investing in a season ticket for August, quite a turn around.
TEACHERS TO BE MONITORED Rafael Núñez, sub-manager of the Human Resources department in the Secretary of Education, announced on Monday, July 26 that the work of the teachers during weekends will be monitored and supervised, to determine if they are complying with what was agreed. Teachers will be teaching classes next Saturday, according to the new academic calendar, which was discussed between the authorities and the magisterial leaders in order to recover the time that was lost during the magisterial strikes. The procedure of supervision begins with simple instructive brochures that have been sent to all department directors, district directors and directors of educational centers, so that they take control of the assistance and the advance of the academic activities in each educational center of the country. Aorta from the internal controls, periodic visits will be made to each center by departmental and district directors, joined by the central units of the human resource area. "The obligations
stated that the teachers would give classes during four Saturdays,
which would mean academic activities in the classroom, and the resting
weekends they will be helping in other extra curricular activities
in their educational centers," said Núñez. "I believe the responsibility of the teachers is clearly stated, we are going to take advantage of the motivation of the teachers, the parents and the magisterial leaders to participate in a 100% in these activities and that way avoid the application of the law to those teachers who fail to attend these activities," he warned. "There have already been two weekends in which the teachers have presented themselves to the educational centers, given that they have been monitored and an outstanding achievement has been observed regarding this," explained Núñez." El Heraldo PROGRAM AGAINST HUNGER PUT INTO ACTION Reitoca, Francisco Morazan. The Executive Power initiated the first actions to attack the hunger and the drought that is threatening approximately 40 thousand families belonging to four departments of Honduras. The governments
plan to fight hunger began with the donation of the basic food groups
and the immediate execution of irrigation projects, valued in three
million lempiras provided in Reitoca. The government was joined by
the World Food Programme at the time of the donation. "In the first crops, we have a recount of 33 million apples that have been lost because of the drought. This has affected approximately 40 thousand families in 23 municipalities in which. With the help of the Ministry of Agriculture, we have developed a mission to evaluate the loss of crops affecting the alimentary situation," he said. After declaring
the alimentary emergency, the mandatory pointed out that food is being
provided and irrigation projects are being impulsed in all areas of
the country. El Heraldo
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Home for children in need of support BY TONJE ROBERTSEN "Auntie, look, look!" shouts the little boy as he bravely attempts to balance on his head with his feet up against the wall. "Look what I can do!" Together with three new brothers and four new sisters, he lives in a house ran by the Grand Commission Churches of Latin America. "There are very few places in Honduras that can take on children like these," said Leticia Martinez, vice president on the board of directors of the church. The Grand Commission Home for Children was opened in September 2000, with the main objective of providing homeless children with a permanent place to live, while preparing them for leading positions in the church and offering education so that they one day will be able to support themselves. Numerous Honduran children in need of new homes are relocated through IHNFA (the Honduran Institute for Children and Families) to smaller, private orphanages like the one ran by Grand Commission. As IHNFA is the only Honduran institution allowed to arrange adoptions, the children in these smaller homes will not move on to other families. With the help of financial subsidizes from IHNFA and through private donations, several NGO's in Honduras administer smaller orphanages throughout the country, Leticia Martinez
of the Grand Commission Churches explains that as much as they want
to take on more children, their budget does not allow them to. Housing,
food, education, transportation, and activities for eight children is
costly, and despite of fundraising events by the church and sporadic
contributions from private companies, the home still struggles with
its expenses. There are four people working at the home; director Iris Tejeda as well as three volunteers. The volunteers work on various days during the week, and on Sundays, church groups take the children out on activities. Volunteers are warmly welcomed. "We need people who can help us in every aspect," said Martinez, emphasizing the need for volunteers who can help with homework. "The ideal thing would be if the kids could learn another language, like English, but we don't have the resources to pay for English lessons. They are taking computer lessons, but they don't have a computer in the house to practice on." A spokesperson for IHNFA commented on the Grand Commission's home for children: "It's very important and a positive initiative. [...] There are a lot of children in Honduras who need love, understanding, attention and above all health and education." Despite of complicated backgrounds, the children enjoy typical days. They get up at 5.30, wash, have breakfast, go to school, return at 12.15 for homework, and the smaller ones rest until 15.00. The oldest girls aged nine, eleven and twelve, then watch television or play. Dinner is at 17.00 and bedtime at 20.00. Birthdays are celebrated in McDonalds or Burger King. "We hope to move from this house to a place where we can have our own space," she said, "and build not only one house but several. We know the country's needs are extensive." For more information about Grand Commission's home for children, call 230-59-98
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By
GLADYS ACOSTA
Magumi Fujita, Japanese Volunteer working with the Chagas Program,
performs a questionnaire at a home in Intibuca)
The
drill donated by Japan will be able to perforate wells above 100 mts
deep
One
of the medics examins of the patients in the Maternity Ward
The
friendly game between Honduras and Panama in Tegucigalpa Tuesday left
a new fan intrigued. 
