Our last clinic day was spent in Gigante and Las Pilas. We worked closely with the local physicians at both sites to deliver medical services to the people in these two communities. Besides providing blood pressure and diabetes screening, PAP smears and dental cleanings, we offered patients free medication refills, eyeglasses, and deworming treatment. As Chikungunya and Dengue continue to plague the area, we were mindful about screening all patients presenting with fever, rash, diarrhea, vomiting, and headache. As the week drew to a close, we were thankful for the new friends we made in Nicaragua, for the assistance provided by members of FIMRC (the Foundation for International Medical Relief of Children), and for the many messages of love/support and donations we received for the trip. We look forward to our return visit next year! 

​After a treacherous ride through dirt roads, dried up river banks, and lush forest, eight of our providers made it safely to El Lajal, where we spent the day ensuring that villagers had refills on their medications, glasses for those with visual impairment, PAP smears, dental cleanings, and deworming treatment. During our visit, we were able to stabilize a sixty-year-old woman in diabetic ketoacidosis. The second half of the group consulted in San Ignacio. Over one hundred patients were treated, including an eight-year-old patient who had a severe head injury and required multiple sutures. Tomorrow we head to Gigante and Las Pilas for our last clinic day!

Today we visited the villages of Las Canas and Astillero, and treated over 250 patients. Besides seeing a multitude of patients with Dengue and Chikungunya (which continue to plague the area), we treated patients for both acute and chronic illnesses. As part of our women's health initiative, we performed PAP smears and breast exams. Because Ascariasis and other parasitic infections are so prevalent in the country, we provided deworming medications to children and adults. Two of our emergency physicians traveled to the Roberto Clemente Clinic to give CPR and first aid courses to local ambulance drivers. Although we only served these two communities today, villagers travelled from all over the coastline in search of medical care. In fact, our last patient of the day was a nine-year-old boy who rode on horseback with his mother for over an hour to reach our clinic! Looking forward to tomorrow's clinic.