Today and yesterday the Nicaraguan Doctor and I went to more of the schools that Nicaragua Resource Network supports and gave all of the students and staff the anti-parasite pill as well as Vitamin A. We gave the pills like before classroom by classroom. We explain them and then pass them all out to the students. Class sizes vary from 18-52 students. Everyone takes the pill together and we tell them to hold it in their hand and then put their hand "Arriba, al Centro, y al Dentro" which means (to the top, to the middle, and to the inside. The Doctor and I wear gloves when we pass them out but then when we pass out the water we have to share cups from classroom to classroom. This bothers me in terms of infection control, but we are doing our best with what we have and we didn't have 400+ cups. Parasites like amebas are a big problem in Nicaragua because of the dirty water, the animal feces, and not washing hands or food before eating.
I realized that there is not soap at any of the schools. So when we tell them washing hands is the #1 thing to do to avoid infection, they have nowhere to do that. I could go on and on about how gross not having soap is but I bet you could imagine the necessity at a school pre-school- 11th grade in a developing world country should be so I won't get on my soap box (haha.) Getting soap in the schools and increasing the hand washing is my new objective. The Doctor and I talked about it with some of the school directors. Liquid soap turns into a toy and a lot is wasted, bar soap disappears, and sanitizer is too expensive. So we have decided it will be best to get the baseball size balls of soap that they have here and put it in a bag like the ones they use for onions (plastic mesh) and hang it on the wall near the sinks. One of the schools doesn’t have a sink...so that will be part of the objective too.
Also, the Doctor and I have done some home visits for some students that are particularly sick. One that just got out of the hospital, another that may have TB, another that hit his head really hard and has a big bump and hematoma. We helped the parents understand what the medical information the hospital/Dr. had given them, got the medicines/nebulizer that they needed and prayed with them. It was really neat. Nicaraguans are very welcoming and invite you right inside their 1 room concrete block/tin homes with dirt floors and are always happy to have guests. They smile and wave at anyone that passes them on the street and have a resilient energy and humility about them. Beautiful people!
On another note, I spoke with the mother of host family that I will be moving into next week. We are going to meet Friday evening. I am excited to meet them and really be immersed in the Nica culture in their home. Well, I am going to climb in to my top bunk here at the mission house and head to bed. I'll write again soon.
P.S. the Mangoes are beginning to fall and when they hit the tin roofs we call it "mango bango"...it is loud but so great...the mangoes should be all ripe in about another 3 weeks. Can't Wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love,
Ayla Landry
"Love is the force that transforms and improves the Soul of the World." ~Paulo Coelho
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