The program’s first phase reached 485 students in 12 schools in southern Honduras, providing 1,455 health services and identifying 190 children for specialized follow-up.
CAMO South has launched an ambitious initiative that will bring preventive healthcare and health education to 175 schools across Choluteca, Honduras. Developed in partnership with Fundesur Honduras, the program is designed to improve access to essential healthcare for thousands of children living in rural communities where specialized medical services are often unavailable.
During each school visit, students receive vision, hearing, and oral health screenings. In addition, they participate in health education sessions and receive fluoride treatments to promote lifelong healthy habits. When screenings identify a potential health concern, parents receive a detailed report so their child can receive timely follow-up care.
Building Local Capacity for Lasting Impact
Before launching the program, CAMO invested in developing local leadership through an intensive training program held between February and May 2026. The training prepared the CAMO South Program Manager to lead the Vision and Hearing Health Program, coordinate national and international medical brigades, and oversee high-quality clinical and community services.
The curriculum included ophthalmology, audiology, nutrition, dentistry, community outreach, and administrative management. As a result, the team gained the technical and operational skills needed to deliver safe, ethical, and patient-centered care throughout southern Honduras.
Early Results Show Significant Need
The program is already making an impact. During June, CAMO South medical brigades visited 12 schools in the municipality of Namasigüe, providing 1,455 healthcare services to 485 students through vision, hearing, and dental screenings.
As a result, the team identified 190 children who require specialized follow-up care. Most referrals were related to hearing conditions, highlighting an important unmet healthcare need and helping guide future outreach efforts in the region.
The First Step Toward Reaching 175 Schools
These results represent only the beginning of CAMO South’s long-term commitment to improving children’s health in southern Honduras. As the program expands to all 175 participating schools, thousands more students will receive preventive screenings that can identify health conditions before they interfere with learning, development, and overall well-being. Early detection, combined with timely referrals, will help ensure more children have the opportunity to thrive both in the classroom and in life.
