 This
is typical of the refugee shacks built after Hurricane Mitch.
People used whatever materials they could find after the floods
washed away their homes, animals and crops. This house was eventually
replaced by new homes which now cover a whole field.
Typical country side home in Nicaragua. This is a good home,
much better than homes in the towns which are crammed close
together with sewerage in the streets. Note that this home is
up on pilings so the pigs and other animals can not enter. Also
there is space around the home for gardens. The outhouse is
removed from the house for better sanitation.
 The
aftermath of Hurricane Mitch: this used to be a narrow stream
with many homes on its banks. When the almost 6' of rains poured
down, the stream became a 1/2 mile wide raging torrent which
washed out the bridge (note the cement supports in the background),
and washed away the homes. Typically the streams have now changed
course, washed away topsoil and farms and property boundaries
no longer exist.
 In
Siuna, Nicaragua, the gold mining company, Greenstone, owns
the mineral rights for the entire area. It is illegal to dig
the gold rich earth, which belongs to Greenstone, but since
the mines are closed and unemployment is so high, children often
work the earth to extract a meager amount of gold flakes the
hard way. Here the dirt is washed in a stream of sewerage in
which the children stand.
These two photos show the medical equipment
being delivered to the Clinica de la Mujeres in Siuna
This clinic is being run by Senora Alejandra Centeno Ramierez,
and a very dedicated staff of fourteen people who are devoting
their lives to improving medical care for women and children
in a very poor area.
This image (above right) is a piece of land
the Siuna Foundation bought to build the new Casa Materna. The
soil is rock hard and all digging is done with a pick ax by
hand.
Two photos showing the new Casa Materna with 45 beds, a kitchen
(the women do their own cooking), a bathroom, office space,
and large living room or gathering room. Here women can sew,
talk with family etc.
Here are two patients (above right). The women we take in are
the high risk pregnancies, who live usually far up in the mountains.
One woman was 24 years of age and pregnant with her 7th baby.
Three of her children had just died of tetanus -- lack of vaccinations.
Some women are in their late 40's and having their 20th pregnancy.
Due to iron poor diets, repeat pregnancies, hard life and hard
work, these women are at high risk.
These women come to the clinic to await the birth of their baby
in a protected environment. They are seen by a doctor once a
week, and monitored daily by staff. They can attend classes
on nutrition, first aid, basic public health issues and family
issues.
Here babies are vaccinated, pre-natal and post-partem care is
rendered and there is a pharmacy for needed medications.
The Clinica de la Mujeres and the Casa Materna in Siuna is now
self sustaining, although The Siuna Foundation will continue
to monitor and be involved with the clinic. It is the foundation's
hope that many medical teams from the USA will rotate through
this and our other clinics to bring their knowledge and help.
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