BeFriend Ocotillo Clinic

BeFriend sparks empowerment in the Ocotillo community through the local ministry.

What is life like in Ocotillo?
El Ocotillo Oriental is located near the city of San Pedro Sula in the Cortės region of Honduras. The community has a population of 61,647 people.

Most families reside in basic homes made of concrete blocks, wood, and metal sheets. Dirt streets make travel complicated, and garbage often pollutes public areas and natural green space. Although there are no sanitary sewage services in Ocotillo, the residents do have public energy services. Drinking water is usually fetched from wells in a nearby village, but water shortages force many people to travel further using public transportation buses to get their water. The two public health centers in the community are severely limited by their lack of medicines and supplies.

An average household in Ocotillo consists of more than 6 people, who collectively survive on $10 per day. Typically only one person within a family is employed and elderly adults dedicate their time to caring for young children. Common sources of income include collecting recycling (bottles, iron, and cans from the dump), running small businesses, working in factories or caring for livestock.

About the Ocotillo Clinic
Ocotillo Clinic is reaching the community through medical interventions and by spreading the good news of Jesus. They take a holistic approach to medical services. Through daily devotionals, a prayer room, and pastoral counseling, the clinic is reaching souls for Christ. In addition, they spread proactive health education to prevent disease/illness, based on the principles of Community Health Education (CHE).

Mission: To expand the kingdom of God while providing medical services with excellence, efficiency and quality. With committed and trained health personnel, we achieve maximum satisfaction for our patients.

Vision: To become a self-sustainable clinic with comprehensive, quality services that benefit the health, economy and development of the community. We are always focused on the satisfaction of our patients' needs, offering personalized care.

What challenges does Ocotillo clinic face?
Ocotillo is a high-risk area that is secluded from the nearest city. The location of the clinic is critical for many vulnerable families, but it is also isolated from other health centers and organizations.

Although they offer medical services at a low cost, some people within the community do not have the resources to pay for their consultation and medication. The clinic would like to find ways to cover the cost of services so these patients can still receive quality care to thrive.

Limited resources and availability pose a significant barrier as they attempt to address the immense needs of their community. They aspire to build the clinic’s proficiency in specialized services. They would love to acquire x-rays for dentistry, a psychologist, a gynecologist, a pediatrician, more lab equipment, an obstetrician, adequate supplies for mobile clinics and an expanded pharmacy. As they continue to grow in self-sustainability and independence, the clinic will need to undergo structural renovations.

People within the community who want to acquire medications without a prescription often try to access unethical distributors. When people use these illegal means to get drugs, they are less likely to achieve restoration of their health.

BeFriend Project Goals
Ocotillo Clinic will focus on 3 key areas of transformation:

Economic Empowerment

• Achieve self-sustainability for the clinic.
• Expand the services of the clinic to serve the health needs of the community more fully.

Discipleship & Multiplication

• Train all staff in discipling at the clinic.
• Hold early morning devotions with staff and patients.
• Facilitate a prayer room for patients.
• Share Christ during health education lessons and medical missions.

Infrastructure Improvements

• Build optometry area.
• Improve the waiting room area.

How will BeFriend benefit the clinic and community?
BeFriend will allow Ocotillo Clinic to move toward self-sustainability. The clinic continues its ministry and growth once the project is over! Ocotillo Clinic will demonstrate and proclaim the good news of Jesus by seeking the good of their community. People will not only restore a spiritual relationship with God, but also improve their quality of life and health.

BeFriend will develop strong relationships between people in other countries, creating opportunities to know another culture and strengthen the family of God.