Press Releases

La Lima Continues to Develop with USAID Support

La Lima, Cortes – The Minister of the Honduran Fund for Social Investment (FHIS), Marlon Lara; the Ambassador of the United States of America, Charles A. Ford; the Director of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Paul Tuebner; the Mayor of La Lima, Dilcia Idalia Fernández; and community representatives inaugurated a sanitary system in the city of La Lima.

The construction of the project was executed through FHIS with a total investment of Lps. 20 million, that included funds provided by USAID and the Municipality of La Lima. The project includes 250 domestic connections to a residual water treatment system that includes four oxidation ponds, and benefits the neighborhoods of Sitraterco and Los Maestros.

Ambassador Ford iterated the importance of investing in water and sanitation projects because of their contributions to the health of Hondurans and the reduction of environmental contamination by improving the quality of water that empties into rivers.

USAID has invested $90 million in the water and sanitation program, covering more than one million Hondurans throughout the country. The new sanitation system in the neighborhoods of Sitraterco and Los Maestros complements the potable water system constructed in 2003 with USAID funding.

With the construction of the system complete, the community and the municipal government have the responsibility to take necessary actions to ensure the sustainability of the water and sanitation systems. It is important that the beneficiaries of the project pay a monthly service fee to provide for the maintenance and the adequate functioning of the system.

USAID is the United States Government agency responsible for international cooperation through development assistance in 100 different countries throughout the world. USAID has been present in Honduras since 1961 working jointly with the Honduran Government to support democracy and to contribute to poverty reduction by creating opportunities for Hondurans through environmental programs, health, education and economic growth among others.

March 1, 2006