Today we visited the Guadeloupe neighborhood in the Las Mangas community. We learned how the 59 networks are organized into an average of 20 communities each. And that some of these communities, like Las Mangas (which is quite large) are further subdivided (or organized) into neighborhoods. We learned that each community must be willing and able to organize and must be working to sustain themselves. The goal is that Rainbow will give them the help until they are self-sustaining then move on to other communities.
Hurrricane Mitch came through Las Mangas about 20 years ago and the government built homes in this Guadeloupe neighborhood. They are made with wood siding and could not withstand the weather that the Rainbow project houses could withstand. They have a well for water. Some in the Las Mangas housing project used to live here.
The Medical Clinics
We met the three doctors today. They each worked out of a room in an individual house in the neighborhood.
Dr Cynthia Perec runs the ultra sound clinic, which is a new program started one year ago. She is 21 years old. The most common issues are abdominal problems like gall bladder and kidney. Also sees pregnant women.
This ultrasound machine is all electronic. The scanner looks normal except that it is just the size of an old flip-phone with no wires. It is wireless and connects to a 5x7 tablet for the screen. They also need a regular laptop for storing the images and record keeping. They also use a good inkjet printer to print the images for the patients. This unit is able to see a lot of detail including joints, breast tissue, and thyroid. The unit is completely mobile and can be taken directly to the patient when needed. This unit is truly a game-changer.
Pregnancy ultrasounds are about $6-7 and are used for diagnostic and preventative care. They have aspirations to obtain another unit for ultrasound machine, computer, printer and tablet $7500 total cost.
Dr Bosco Pio Miranda, the dentist, is 29 years old and has been working as a dentist for 6 years because he entered university at 15. The most common work is tooth extractions because of lack of education on dental hygiene so they teach community about dental care. He gave a very informative presentation about how cavities form, why they form, and how to prevent them with brushing your teeth. His dentist "office" is completely portable, which was truly amazing. He had a full-sized dentist's chair, with bright light, that can be folded and put in the back of a truck. He had a portable unit (about the size of a small moving box) that had cables, just like a regular dentist. One cable for shooting a mist of water, one for drilling, and one for the ultra-violet light to harden the fillings. He carried all the numbing and equipment supplies in a normal plastic tote. Again, I was incredibly impressed by the capabilities and his care and knowledge.
Dr Henry is the medical doctor and offers medical talks; today is about breast self-examination. After the medical talks, he attends to patients. Today's talk was very informative and they handled this important and delicate subject gracefully. His clinic was much more basic – but again portable. It had 2 chairs, a small table, a scale, and 2-3 plastic totes for various medications.
These clinics are more accessible than government ministry of health services because they can get into these rural areas. They also help the people not have to spend a full morning of travel to enable them to get in line in time to be seen by a doctor in the bigger towns. Some people get services too late and then still need to spend 3-4 hours to get home. The clinics are also working to change mentality on dental care and importance of proper care, cleanings, fillings and less extractions. The ultrasound machine has helped them be more diagnostic rather than guessing between 2-3 optional issues. They have found hernias and issues with ovaries.
The beauty of these clinics is that the patients are able to talk with a doctor, get a consult, and medication all in one trip. In the case today, the patient mom is so thankful and feels so better having clinics locally. She had a 1 month 15 days old daughter and a 7 year old daughter. Britani, the baby, had a rash on her face. Her older daughter, Nathaly was getting a checkup. Many of these like this mom still must take a taxi, which is a modified motorcycle. The back is a normal motorcycle with handlebars, engine, seat, and wheel. However, they removed the front forks and put on a rickshaw type seat for the passengers and two wheels and that entire thing turns with the handlebars.
However, this is much easier and cheaper to travel around Las Mangas than travelling to larger towns to see a doctor in a clinic. For example, if they need to go to into San Isidro to see a doctor, they must take a taxi for 50 cordobas each way and arrive by 10 am to see the doctor by 12-1 pm. They must leave by 3 pm to get home in time. They must take a number to be seen and if you are not there early enough, you don't get a number. Then, they must pay for the appointment and buy meds. The rural community clinics are nice because they are more private, can follow the patients better and, yet, still have the medications needed.
An example dentist visit, at these local clinics, costs 200 cordobas ($5) per filling. If they go into larger towns to see a private dentist, it is about 1200 cordobas ($30) per filling. Cleanings and extractions here are about 150 cordobas ($4). If the extraction requires surgery, like wisdom teeth, they must go elsewhere unless he is able to see visibly it.
Then pay appointment and buy meds. This is nice because it's here and they have the meds. It's more private.
But The Graduate
Next, we met Pamila and her family. She just graduated with the 5 year high school completed. We met her dad, Antonio, mom, Albarosa, and sister, Adriana.
Pamilia taught at the Collectici named Señora Guadalupe. She taught with another but he immigrated to Costa Rica. Her family was very proud of her because she is the first to graduate high school. She would like to study nursing. She will start on Saturdays locally and sometimes travel. The program is 5-years from Unican university in Matagalpa. However, they have an outreach program on Saturdays in Las Mangas. There are about 40 students in each class.
The challenges to finishing high school are immigration seeking job opportunities and early marriages. The thing that touched many of us was that while she was sponsored and her sponsor was consistent in paying, she never received a letter or a birthday or Christmas gift like many of the other students did. While I was not her sponsor, it could have been me. My wife is great at this but I have not done this and now understand the great importance of building this relationship with the students. They really need the encouragement and this inspired me to make letter-writing or emailing a priority as I go forward. The staff does a great job of interpreting the letters and delivering them once a month.
The Rainbow Network program emphasizes that there are more opportunities like rural universities. They encourage them to get a career in their communities. They also encourage the students to get a technical career first since it's faster to start career and then they can study more for another career. They will start with trade schools like barber, computers, nail care so they can work during the week and then take classes for their main career on Saturdays. Pamilia has been studying every day because it's important to her. She took a course in computers and nails for the technical school and is now waiting on the certificate.
The Collectivo
We went back to the housing project, went to Collectivo in the community center. This is where the scholarship students are required to teach the younger, elementary, children. They bring wooden bench-tables from surrounding homes for the kids to work on. There were several students leading the children with moms there watching over the process. It was very inspiring and I wish our high-school kids had to teach like that.
The children sang 2 songs for us: "La vaca lola" and "Bartelito". They played games involving listening, math, and riddles. They also had dictation of words and sentences. They also did some science experiments with water, baking soda, and vinegar.
Several moms made the food for the children, which was more than your regular rice and beans. It had lots of fresh vegetables – kind of like a veggie, Chipotle bowl, but way better tasting. They also prepared a milk oatmeal with sugar. It tasted like strawberry milk.
After this we made balloon animals. We played and talked with the moms, the staff, and the children. They were all so welcoming. To say I learned something would be an understatement. I was so impressed with the staff and the people. They are truly inspiring.
Deacon Richard
