CAN WE SAVE SOME LIVES?
A LONG-TERM HEALTH CARE SOLUTION FOR KISALAYA and KURURIA, NICARAGUA
Every day for thirty years the nurse in Kisalaya, Cecilia, goes through the motions of caring for ill people with no doctor and often few to no medicines. She faithfully arrives at the clinic, unlocks the door and begins to address the many issues that will appear before her – parasites, bacteria, viruses, injuries, birth defects, cancers, diseases, strokes, heart problems, etc. Though she may have one or two volunteers to help her at times, the demand is overwhelming. And the numbers continue to climb as the economic desperation in the region grows and people are moving from the remote areas of the rain forest into the villages at an alarming rate.
The community has not had a doctor as long as anyone can recall, as a doctor is available five miles away in Waspam. But the only way to Waspam is to walk, which is nearly impossible when people are ill because of the high temperatures, humidity and lack of shade. One could catch a ride to Waspam by taxi or truck for $10US, which is impossible as 99% plus of the people are unemployed with no prospects of employment. If they are working, the wages are about $1 per day. A doctor’s appointment in Waspam costs at least $6 and the visit does not include any medicines needed. The hospital in Waspam is very basic and all testing such as X-rays, comprehensive bloodwork, cancer diagnoses require a seventy-eight mile trip to Puerto Cabezas. And, as you can imagine, the costs are prohibitive to go there!
Seeds And Love Together has been working with the community leaders to create a long term solution for this problem and we believe God has given an answer. Dr. Jeffrey Justin Garavilla, a Miskito local from the area, has been through medical school in Blue Fields has finished his medical education and is completing his second year of mandatory government service before he becomes a licensed physician. The leaders of Kisalaya know Dr, Jeff because of his part-time work SALT provided in Kisalaya when he was between semesters over the past two years. The leaders of Kisalaya have agreed for him to come to Kisalaya to be their doctor when he completes his service. This has always been his dream – to return to his home and care for his people.
Dr. Jeff has agreed with SALT to a work for virtually the same pay as he receives from the government – $100 US per week. This means we are seeking to raise $5,200 annually to support him as the first known doctor ever in the community of nearly 2,000 people. We are also looking for him to be able to travel to Kururia, another village of 2,000 people about fifteen to twenty miles away, periodically to assist the nurse now assigned there. There is no way in the foreseeable future that these extremely impoverished villages can ever pay his full salary but we, by God’s providence and SALT’s commitment, can make a difference in giving life to many through our support of this endeavor.
This is not going to stop the medical crisis in Kisalaya and Kururia, but it appears to be the long term answer that God is providing for the community we love. This plan will not only provide competent medical care for the community and share the nurse’s burden but, it will provide a doctor the people already know and who understands their culture and can speak in their mother tongue.
To start, please pray we can raise the $5,200 we need to enable him to start on January 1, 2022. Second, please pray we can attain the ongoing the monthly support. And, third, pray for him, his spouse and his daughter to be able to make the move. Prayer is what we need first and foremost as nothing can happen without God’s help. Can we save some lives? Yes, we can through the power of God!