by Milan Sheth

My classmates and I traveled to Nicaragua via International Service Learning Organization (ISL). We provided an array of medical services to the native people in both urban and rural areas. Upon arrival, I was swept away by Nicaragua’s natural beauty and the warm welcome we received from the residents. Our group leader, Adriana, greeted us at the airport and led us back to our lodging. Hotel Mozonte served as our home for the next two weeks.

The next day’s orientation gave me a sense of grounding in what I would do as we reviewed basic triage, took vital signs, and learned medical Spanish. Our first assignments were to conduct house visits in San Isidro. We began our day by shyly knocking on doors, asking if anyone in the home wanted our free medical exam or check-up. The people were extremely friendly and respectful, though some initially declined our offer. As some of the braver residents came out to talk with us, more and more individuals arrived to ask questions.

Some key characteristics of the families emerged out of our work. First, it was clear that families rarely saw a doctor. Locals reported that the hospital was too far away for them to visit, and it was difficult to find transportation. Health characteristics of the people also became evident. Most of their ailments were respiratory issues, rashes, parasites, colicky babies, and high blood pressure. Many people requested refills on prescriptions that another visiting team had given them six to twelve months ago.

After home visits, we set up a clinic in San Isidro. San Isidro had been particularly hard-hit by flooding several years ago, leaving the people with a damaged sense of safety and security. They had been forced to evacuate, and many lost valuable possessions. Despite these troubles, the people we met greeted us warmly and enthusiastically. On opening day, there was a long line of people waiting for us to see them. Patients were excited to receive new supplies.

The second clinic was set up in San Sebastian, a middle-class neighborhood in the residential area of Managua that was built less than ten years ago. After our time San Isidro, I was surprised that we set up a clinic in a more developed area. When I hesitantly asked about this, the local doctor who worked with us stated that the people here had few nearby medical facilities. The community builders did not plan for healthcare needs, and the nearest clinic was quite a distance away. This proved to be true in the next few days as we saw more than 60 patients.

It was clear the people had a high regard for all of the medical personnel they saw. They greeted us warmly and respectfully and took in everything we said with quiet, positive acceptance. I could readily see that the Nicaraguan culture was more communally focused rather than individually minded. They valued the individual’s ability to become a harmonious part of the social environment more than the individual valued the ability to express himself.

In between the clinics and house visits, my team went on guided activities such as zip-lining, horseback riding, traveling to monkey island, and visiting an active volcano in Masaya. These were thrilling activities that were in high contrast to the challenging medical work we had just done in the villages and cities.

After this challenging, heartwarming, and heartbreaking experience, I was struck by how much Nicaragua impacted me. I hoped that our work left a small imprint of change on Nicaragua!