https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4XT1Tqdfag
ON MEDICINAL PLANTS
How important is herbal/traditional medicine in Eastern Nicaragua?
“We use a lot of traditional medicine…. to relieve some pain on body. We have different plants for different diseases… You can buy it in the market but most of families in Siuna have small gardens with medicinal plants…and use the leaves to make into tea to [treat different diseases].”
“The leaves…are good for when you’re dizzy or to avoid vomiting or when someone is nervous”
“We self-medicate instead of getting a prescription.”
“People usually live 3-5 hours away from the hospital so we use a lot of traditional medicine and ministry of health have different programs that teach health leaders or midwifes how to use a traditional medicine and that helps the patient…if they have a minor condition. I think the midwives and health leaders are a good connection between the ministry of healthcare and the community because they are the once that are close to the patients, not the doctors.”
How’s the knowledge of medicine passed on through generations?
“Traditional medicine has been passed by your grandpa and grandma... if I know some tradition medicine its because my grandmas or mom taught me…There are also small books that list…[different diseases and their corresponding herbal treatments].”
Are medicinal plants effective?
“It’s effective...most people in rural communities prefer traditional medicine rather than ibuprofen…first, they use traditional medicine and if it doesn’t work they use western medicine.”
ON GENDER ROLES
How are women in Nicaragua treated differently from women in the U.S?
“I have seen a lot of difference between the women’s role in U.S and the women’s role in Nicaragua, especially in this region…In Nicaragua, usually its because its our culture that women take care of children all the time. If they don’t have kids they have access to get job opportunities and go outside and take responsibilities. When I was younger I didn’t see much positions for women…in government institutions. I can say that it has changed a lot in Siuna…but they are women in rural communities that only take care of children.”
“One thing that I can tell you is that in Nicaragua we’re working on the gender aspect. Many women are now presidents of organizations. We had a women president…Violeta Chamorro…in the 90s. Now, the women have a lot of power in Nicaragua. So there are many laws that you know if you touch women you will spend the whole life in jail.”
"I will respectfully add that Nicaragua has a lot more to go…I have been here for a month and as a women working and living alone I feel like a marchin. Here, people won’t say something bad about it but the gender roles are still fixed."