Dr. Polifka's Travels cont.

Here is more from my friend Michael Polifka, who volunteers to provide medical care in developing countries. I hope you enjoy reading this. I'll post more later.

Mark

Sept 2008

San Agustin, Nicaragua

The rainy season starts here in late August and goes until November. Although I was here in Nicaragua last September, either related to global climate change or just pure luck, I didn’t have a clue what ‘rainy’ really meant; I do now.

Immediately after my arrival I, along with two Nicaraguan physician colleagues, went to the rural mountainous area in the central north of the country. Here at 4000 feet altitude it is blissfully cool, compared to the northwest lowland plain where I will spend most of the rest of the time. The small communities are connected by narrow dirt roads that often go through streams whose height will rise from six up to 24 inches from the twice daily two hour periods when it will rain, then pour, then rain harder.

Everything there is green. The rolling hills and low mountains have cultivated and livestock-grazing fields going up their sides and except for a few hours of blue sky in the morning there is a misty haze that covers everything.

Although medical care there is not readily accessible and the population has their share of regular medical problems, the general good nutritional status from raising their own food is apparent. The week passes quickly. The scenery is beautiful, our hosts are gracious, we are busy each day, and with the exception of momentary anxiety as we drive through the above mentioned rising streams, my time there is delightful.

The next week I return to work in the small rural communities in the lowlands; the situation couldn’t be more different.