Medical Clinics in Nicaragua

In 2006, 2008, and 2009, I was able to go to Nicaragua with Tabernacle Baptist Church of New Bern. This picture is from one of the medical clinics in Pascuala, a small village near Somotillo, which is close to the border of Honduras. In the medical clinics Dr. Jud and I averaged 80-100 patients per day. In later clinics Dr. Anderson, a local physician, accompanied us to clinics in outlying villages. Dr. Anderson runs the clinic in Somotillo, along with his nurse, Hilda. My Spanish wasn't the greatest at that time, but I asked one expectant mother where she was planning to have her baby and she said, "Here", indicating her house, which was made of sticks, with some block, and had a dirt floor. I asked if she would have anyone help her, and she said no, that she would give birth "sola" or alone. She pointed to the large stick pole that she would hold onto while squatting on the dirt floor to give birth. She also showed me the wooden bowl with a knife to cut the cord. She was due anytime, and I seriously wanted to stay and help her with her birth! While attending language school in Granada I will not be participating in medical clinics, due to Rotary guidelines, but I will be able to participate in an observational status. I hope to find out more about the birthing experiences of Nicaraguan women.