At Hospital Loma de Luz, we see many patients with illnesses that could easily 
be prevented. From children with frequent diarrhea due to unclean water to malaria outbreaks and patients with severe asthma due to smoke in the house from cooking over an open fire. Rather than continue to treat the same diseases over and over with no change, we desire to make lasting health changes in the surrounding villages so that people will lead healthier lives and take more responsibility for their own health care. This is achieved through education. However, many people in rural Honduras have superstitions and ancient beliefs that make it difficult for foreigners to teach effectively. 
Therefore, the most successful method of educating the people is through training a select few who desire to understand basic concepts of health and hygiene. These few can then go back to their friends and neighbors and teach them in a way that they can understand. These few can make changes in their own homes that their neighbors 
will notice and desire to imitate. We pray that these few can spread out and change the face of Honduras.
In February of 2010, we started a community health worker training program in conjunction with MAP International Honduras. Thirty men and women
from surrounding villages are being trained in the basics of health, hygiene and education. The students spend three days at the hospital in intense training, four times per year for three years. Our friends from MAP International have been instrumental in organizing the program and providing educational materials that they have used for many years 
in other parts of Honduras and the world. Our students learn not only about health and first aid but they also learn how to teach. In each session, the students practice various teaching methods so they will be able to effectively communicate information to others in their communities. A large part of the course also involves learning how to become a person of integrity who will be trusted and confided in. This is vital as the students begin to do community risk assessments and plan healthy changes for their 
communities. We pray that lasting changes will be made in our communities through the teaching, influence and Christian witness of our community health workers. 
be prevented. From children with frequent diarrhea due to unclean water to malaria outbreaks and patients with severe asthma due to smoke in the house from cooking over an open fire. Rather than continue to treat the same diseases over and over with no change, we desire to make lasting health changes in the surrounding villages so that people will lead healthier lives and take more responsibility for their own health care. This is achieved through education. However, many people in rural Honduras have superstitions and ancient beliefs that make it difficult for foreigners to teach effectively. 
Therefore, the most successful method of educating the people is through training a select few who desire to understand basic concepts of health and hygiene. These few can then go back to their friends and neighbors and teach them in a way that they can understand. These few can make changes in their own homes that their neighbors 
will notice and desire to imitate. We pray that these few can spread out and change the face of Honduras.In February of 2010, we started a community health worker training program in conjunction with MAP International Honduras. Thirty men and women
from surrounding villages are being trained in the basics of health, hygiene and education. The students spend three days at the hospital in intense training, four times per year for three years. Our friends from MAP International have been instrumental in organizing the program and providing educational materials that they have used for many years 
in other parts of Honduras and the world. Our students learn not only about health and first aid but they also learn how to teach. In each session, the students practice various teaching methods so they will be able to effectively communicate information to others in their communities. A large part of the course also involves learning how to become a person of integrity who will be trusted and confided in. This is vital as the students begin to do community risk assessments and plan healthy changes for their 
communities. We pray that lasting changes will be made in our communities through the teaching, influence and Christian witness of our community health workers. 
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