Project assistance completion report : Mosquitia relief and development project (522-0278)

The project constructed a health clinic in Auasbila, where no medical services had been available, and health centers in the communities of Barra Patuca, Yahurabila, Laka Tabila, and Raya. A field hospital unit was established in Puerto Lempira that is expected to treat 22,750 people during its first year. The hospital is the only facility accessible to most of Mosquitia's population that is capable of performing limited surgery. The project significantly reduced the incidence of malaria by spraying houses with residual insecticide in nearly 100 communities. To improve environmental health, the project provided training to 24 Miskitos, 11 of whom were hired to report on community health, organize health and water groups, provide TA in construction and maintenance of wells and latrines, and distribute educational health material. With their guidance, the communities completed 2,141 of a targeted 3,200 latrines. A community-based educational radio station, called Sani Radio, was developed for the region by the International Relief Committee (IRC). The radio station, which includes 2 production studios, was ingeniously pre-assembled in the United States and shipped to Puerto Lempira at a remarkable speed. Sani Radio is the only Honduran station that reaches the Mosquitia Region and the only station broadcasting in the Miskito language. The station's major challenge is to find a suitable permanent institutional and financial base. The infrastructure component experienced a setback when unprecedented flooding of the region in 8/86 damaged the nearly completed principal bridge on the Rus-Rus river. However, the bridge was redesigned and completed in 12/87 to the benefit of 3,898 people. The project improved 13 small bridges on the region's road network - 122 km of which were also improved (more than double the project target). Rehabilitation of the canal connecting Laguna Sirpe and the Kruta river proved difficult. A dredge purchased in the United States could not remove tree trunks and roots embedded in the canal and the material excavated severely abraded the dredge's pumping mechanism. The dredge was used to rehabilitate 5 km of the planned 12 km of the canal, while 3 km were rehabilitated by manual labor during the dry season. Several lessons were learned. (1) Since the Government of Honduras (GOH) commitment to the Mosquitia is far less than to more populated regions, longer lead times and training of GOH personnel might be required for projects in the area. (2) The GOH has limited concern for the refugees in the Mosquitia, and so should not be heavily relied upon to implement projects designed to assist them. (3) Contracting out might have lessened the administrative burden of the infrastructure component, but would not have provided employment to as many local Miskitos.