Background
In Honduras, as in many countries, people with disabilities are an invisible group, and this invisibility participates postponement. Through surveys or administrative records sector institutions have only partial elements , so in 2002 , the National Statistics Institute (INE ) with the participation of the users of the information sector , measured by disability first time in Honduras , incorporating a disability modular Permanent Household Survey Multipurpose , offering a new vision of the subject to people with disabilities, authorities and industry players.
Since result thought that in Honduras there are about 800,000 persons with disability what represents 10 % of the Total of the Honduran Population who is Eight Million Inhabitants. The most common types are the physical disabilities of locomotion and skill before the problems of vision, hearing, language and mental delay; the most frequent reasons are a disease (36 %), congenital (27 %), there injures (20 %) and aging (14 %). The population with disability takes a distribution as an age very different from the Honduran population; the 18-year-old minors represent 23 % compared with 50 % of the Honduran population and the 65-year-old major adults and more, represent 31 % of the persons with disability but only 4 % of the Honduran population
The population with disability is predominantly masculine (55 %). To equal age up to 64 years the risk for a man of having a disability is 60 major % that for a woman and after this age the probability is equal for both sexes.
Though the matters relative to the disability always have should to be born in mind from the national state and other public responsible actors, a national program exists approved to anticipate the disability neither to try the rehabilitation of the persons with disability, there are done efforts isolated across the state hospitals and not governmental organisms. In the past, the State has not expired with their role of protection of this vulnerable group: this way, there was closed in the 90s the so- called Honduran Institute of Rehabilitation of the Handicapped person and the department of Special Education in the Secretariat of Education. The scanty specialized services are in the main private and without ends of profit, are concentrated in 2 largest cities of the country San Pedro Sula and Tegucigalpa.
The problematic of the persons with disability begins to treating with major intensity on initiative of the civil society in 2001, since a clause joined in the Strategy of Reduction of the Poverty, where a module of disability proposes to incorporate in the surveys of homes of the National Institute Statistics. In fulfillment of this commitment the INE it calls to taking part in 2002, to Hándicap Internacional, representatives of Secretariats of Work, Health, Education, Commissioner of the Human rights, Persons' Associations with Disability, Service providers to Persons with Disability and Association of Prevention to initiate the process of preparation of the module of disability, the above mentioned module of 29 questions was incorporated in the Survey XXVI Permanent of Homes of Multiple Intentions, which results were presented On December 18, 2002.
Between all the social actors who took part a consensus was achieved on the terms and concepts that should be in use. The concept is preferred of " Presents with disability " since it focuses more on the person and disabled person does not characterize her for their disability as the name, that of "cripple" who focuses more on the injury, "limited" is very pejorative, "handicapped person" or " it presents with needs or special challenges " (this concept is used mainly in the international area, but it is not almost known in Honduras). The use of the latter term is considered to be like inadequate because it does not favor the visibility of this group; in addition it is known only by specialists of the area, but not by the majority of the leaders and the public in general. Here are some geographical, social, economic and political factors that account for the reality of Honduras.
Honduras is a country of America located in the north end of Central America. Its official name is the Republic of Honduras and the Central District capital is constituted jointly by the cities of Tegucigalpa and Comayagüla. Honduras is a unitary state and defines itself as free, sovereign and independent, unitary and indivisible part of the great Central American nation. It is bounded on the north and east by the Caribbean Sea, bordered to the east with the Republic of Nicaragua, to the south by the Gulf of Fonseca and the Republic of El Salvador, and to the west the Republic of Guatemala. The land area of Honduras, comprising all the islands, is approximately 112,492 km2. Honduras is divided into 18 departments. The form of government is republican, democratic and representative. It is exercised by three powers: Legislative, Executive and Judicial, complementary and independent and without relations of subordination. Honduras’s population exceeds 8.0 million people; Hondurans are devoted largely to agricultural activities, in addition to trade, manufacturing, finance, and utilities amongst others. The department of Honduras with higher population density is 400.3 Cortes hab. / Km away. The country is multiethnic, consists of four major ethnic families: whites or mestizos who are mostly indigenous peoples ( Lenca , Miskito , Tolupanes , Chorti , Pech , Tawahkas ) , Garifuna and Creole English speakers.
The territory of Honduras is very rugged, made up of tall rows of mountains, high plains, deep valleys in which are extensive and fertile plains crossed by rivers more or less abundant and some waterways. All of which contributes to its rich biodiversity. It is estimated that in Honduras there, some 8,000 species of plants, around 250 reptiles and amphibians, more than 700 species of birds and 110 species of mammals, distributed in different ecological regions of Honduras.
In 2009 the Honduran economy experienced its first recession since 1999. It is estimated that Gross Domestic Product (GDP) contracted by 2% of GDP. While GDP per capita did by 5 %, which is due both to the adverse effects of the global financial crisis, as the internal political crisis . Inflation fell sharply and closed the year at around 3.5 % . The economic slowdown resulted in a strong reduction of the current account deficit which rose from 14 % in 2008, 7.9 % in 2009. In contrast, the central government deficit widened from the equivalent of 2.4% of GDP to 4.5 % of GDP. The gross domestic product (GDP) in 2010 is estimated at 2.5 percent against 1.9 % in 2009 , supported by a rebound in consumption and domestic investment and exports due to the reactivation of its main markets external such as Mexico , Costa Rica , Europe and the United States. The Central Bank estimates that inflation in December closed at levels close to six percent per year vs. 0.9 percent 12 months earlier as a result of economic recovery and the impact of rising oil prices and food commodities, especially wheat and rice.
Honduras has more than 15,400 km of roads; the country's main highway extends from Puerto Cortés on the Caribbean, passing through San Pedro Sula, Comayagüla, and Tegucigalpa. To reach Nacaome and Choluteca in the south of the country, this also crosses the Pan American Highway. The country's rail system consists of 785 km of railways, divided into two systems, Honduras The National Railway (NHF) , with nearly 600 miles of track , Half of this system is narrow gauge 1067 meters and half consists of 0914 meters . The other system is 190 kilometers and Fabric RailroadCompany owned subsidiary of Chiquita Brands International. Both systems are found in the coastal areas of north-central and northwestern Honduras and serve primarily to transport bananas.
Honduras has 6 ports: Puerto Cortes, Puerto Castilla, La Ceiba, Roatan and Tela, which are located in the north of the country with access to the Atlantic Ocean and South Pacific Ocean with access to only port or Bocas Henecan San Lorenzo. Puerto Cortes, is the largest in the country and along with Puerto box and San Lorenzo, handled most of the maritime trade of Honduras. The port of La Ceiba , Roatan and Tela specialize in tourism, are visited every week by international cruise ships capable of carrying between 400 and 800 international tourists.
At present , the country has four international airports :
- Ramon Villeda Morales (SAP) in San Pedro Sula
- Toncontin International Airport (TGU) in Comayagüla,
- Goloson Airport (LCE)
- Airport and Juan Manuel Galvez (RTB) in Roatan.
The airports with more flights are Ramon Villeda Morales and Toncontín , since both offer non-stop scheduled flights to Miami , Houston , New Orleans and the main cities of Mexico and Central America .
Education: In Honduras education starts with preschool education is imparted to students between 4-6 years, students continue to receive primary education is free and compulsory for all children aged 6-13 years and prepares students for media studies. The middle level comprises two cycles: the common cycle and the diversified cycle. The common general knowledge cycle consists of 3 year duration and is general, technical basic type or pre- vocational secretariat. It comes complete with the average level of secondary school, two years of high school in sciences and letters, 3-year technical high schools as business administration, computer technician, social promotion, agricultural technician and golds. Also with 3 -year careers in teaching for primary, chartered accountant and certified public accountant.
The Directorate of Higher Education is the executive body of the resolutions of the Council on Higher Education. It acts as link with the centers of top education. Higher education is offered by universities for two years, as in the case of agricultural schools, agricultural and forest, up to 7 years or 8 years in the case of medicine and priesthood. The organization management and development of higher education level is in charge of the National Autonomous University of Honduras, by using the following organs: a) full Senate, b) Council of Higher Education, c) Technical Council d) Directorate of Higher Education . The universities receiving grants are autonomous status, which entitles them to define their own curriculum and design their curricula. It ensures that these are consistent with national development plans. Private universities that obtain authorization of the Higher Council of Education in order to teach their careers be subjected to this, plans and programs of study. Given that we selected three nerve centers as reference points for this research while in the next section will realize this, we detail some geographical, social, economic.
Tegucigalpa is the capital of Honduras and seat of government of the Republic, with Comayagüla . Both cities make up the Central District. It is located in the center of the country and is its largest city. It is also one of the largest in Central America, the second most populous of the Central American isthmus (the first is Guatemala). The City of Tegucigalpa is located on a plateau about 990 meters above sea level, surrounded by hills, among which stands out in the north, Cerro El Picacho (1240 m). Its population is 1826.534 inhabitants (2011 estimate). Grande or Choluteca River crosses the city from north to south and divides into two parts: the actual Tegucigalpa, east, and Comayagüla, a city Tegucigalpa in 1898 merged with the west. Both form the Central District Municipality, based constitutional government of the Republic of Honduras and the Archdiocese of Tegucigalpa.
It is the political and economic center of Honduras. The most important economic activities in the city are commerce, construction, services, textiles, sugar, electricity and snuff.
San Pedro Sula is the biggest second city of Honduras and also it (she) is known as the 'Industrial Capital' (being the capital Tegucigalpa) due to the development reached in the 20th century. The city has been consolidated as the principal urban center of the region of Sula's Valley, where one produces approximately 63% of the Internal Brute Product of the Country.
It has a population of 1.600.000 of inhabitants (Population of the Metropolitan zone of Sula's Valley). It was founded on June 27, 1536 by the anticipated don Pedro de Alvarado by San's Pedro name of Port Horses.
The economically active population (PEA) has increased from 250.000 to 450.000 during the period from 1990 to 1998. The PEA represents 48 % of the total of the population of the municipality. If the PEA occupied according to the activity qualifies, almost a third is used in the manufacturing industry.
Activity % of PEA
- Manufacturing: 31.2%
- Trade, restaurants and hotels: 22.9%
- Community, social and personal services: 22.3%
- Other: 23.6%
Catacamas, like the department of Olancho territory, have many characteristics in common: the municipality and the largest department of Honduras. The extent of Catacamas is 7228.5 km² . Catacamas City is located between 14° , 54' , 04" north latitude and 85°, 55', 31", the Prime Meridian. The municipality is bordered on the north by Gualaco , San Esteban and Dulce name Culmí the south by Patook and Las Trojes , El Paraiso , on the east , Dulce Nombre de Culmí and the department of Jinotega , Nicaragua , and west to Santa Maria de El Real, San Francisco de Becerra and Juticalpa . In this city are located Talgua Caves located 210 km from the capital Tegucigalpa, MDC Catacamas is a town rich in dairy, meat and grains. Of the three sectors of the municipality: Primary (Agriculture, Livestock) Secondary (Industry) and Tertiary (Services and Trade) made the final 45 percent of the gross value of production (GVP).