OSU SVOSH 2007: SEBACO, NICARAGUA
ABOUT SEBACO: an email excerpt from our contact in Nicaragua
01 Sept 2007 to 10 Sept 2007; OVER 1500 patients were examined
“ Sebaco is a town in the department of Matagalpa. It is the poorest town. Imagine small, dirt roads, sewerage and garbage in the streets, poor homes and lots of children. Then roaring right through this small collection of homes is a big super highway. This big road is the main port of entry for traffic and trucks from Honduras to Managua. Not much stops in Sebaco.
We went to a small place in town to get breakfast and talk to the locals. The place had 5 little tables and two old ladies who had much to say. First, Sebaco has had no medical teams come to help them. The teams, the women said, always go other areas. The women were so excited that you would come help the pueblo.
The Alcaldia is in a small building on a dirt road, so much different than Masatepe!!! The Vice Mayor and a representative from two differerent political parties were there too. It is now the norm for all important meetings to be attended by a person from two different political parties to cut down on the secret corrupt meetings.
We showed them photos of your previous clinics and gave them a copy of Corrie's letter and drug list from last year and the letter from you Andrew. They are so happy.
It is always the same thing: There is stunned surprise by Alcaldia that anyone would really offer a gift of help without any strings. People only ask things from Alcaldia or give with strings attached. We are offering a gift for free. Amazing!”
HEALTH-CARE SITUATION IN NICARAGUA
SVOSH Clinic 2005 In the waiting line: Masaya, Nicaragua
The waiting line started at 4 AM and people waited up to three hours to be seen.
Some Statistics
- Maternal mortality is 200 per 100,000 live births ( In the USA, the rate is less than 10 per 100,000 live births)
- Highest adolescent pregnancy rate in Central America
- Life expectancy is 68 years
- One of three children is malnourished
- More than 50% of deaths of children under four are caused by preventable diseases (diarrhea, pnuemonia, malnutrition etc)
- Spending on health care fell from $35-40 per Nicaraguan in the 1980’s to $13 today; Lowest in Central America
- The cost of medical care is high; office visit priced at $5 to $10
- Medicine is in short supply; Medical supplies are scarce
- Services are concentrated in larger cities; rural areas are largely unserved
(source: CIA World Fact Book)
Three Tiered Health System
“ Nicaraguans depend on a three-tier health system that reflects the fundamental inequalities in Nicaraguan society. The upper class uses private health care, often going abroad for specialized treatment. A relatively privileged minority of salaried workers in government and industry are served by the Nicaraguan Social Security Institute. These workers and their families compose about 8 percent of the population, but the institute devoured 40 to 50 percent of the national health care budget. The remainder of the population, approaching 90 percent, is poorly served at public facilities that are typically mismanaged, inadequately staffed, and underequipped. Health care services are concentrated in the larger cities, and rural areas are largely unserved. In fact, the Ministry of Health, which has sole responsibility for rural health care, preventive health care, and small clinics, received only 16 percent of the health budget, most of which it spent in Managua.”
(source: CIA World Fact Book)
THANK YOU TO OUR CONTACTS IN NICARAGUA FOR FACILITATING OUR MISSION
Maria Rios and Alejandra Centeno Clinica de la Mujer
Paula Mendoza Vega
Siuna, RAAN, Nicaragua
Omar Gonzales and Muriel Laverty
Masaya, Nicaragua
THANK YOU TO THE OSU DOCTORS WHO TRAVELLED WITH US TO SEBACO
Dr. Rick Frick Dr. Jamie Casper
Dr. Kelly Kingsbury