It has been very interesting to learn about the different Health Care issues that many people in Nicaragua face. Through various readings, outside research, and guest speakers, I feel as if I have a firmer grasp on the subject. Several things struck me about this issue. The limited access to health care in the country poses a troubling and unfortunate risk to many Nicaraguan citizens. Many rural families often have to walk for miles before the can reach a Health center or Hospital. This is particularly troublesome for families that have disabled children, sick family members, or pregnant women.
I thought the conversations with Dr. Jim Saunders and Dr. Jack Turco on their experiences in the country were particularly insightful. The topic of follow-up care and treatment presented various hurdles I had not considered before. If procedures are done in-country, but there isn't sufficient infrastructure to treat patients after medical brigades have left, it poses dangerous consequences for patients with complications.
I have also had personal experience observing health-care in Nicaragua. On my visit to Jinotega, I went to see the Casa Materna. The Casa Materna is a home for pregnant women from nearby rural areas that are difficult to access. Women are brought to the Casa Materna for proper maternal health. The women in these clinics are often very young. I saw a pregnant girl of only 12 years old there, this was one of the most impactful moments of my visit. While properly cared for, the women in the clinic are separated from their families and have little to eat. Health Care in Nicaragua has been improving over the past two decades, especially with the help of the Sandinista government, however there is still a long way to go.