Limón, Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the poorest country in Central America and the second poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, creating a population susceptible to a number of health problems. Malnutrition, communicable diseases and inadequate basic sanitation are all present, but the health profile also includes high rates of chronic and degenerative diseases, traffic accidents and violence.
The village of Limón is located 20 miles southeast of the city of Rivas in the Pacific lowlands region of Nicaragua. The region is popular for coastal tourism, namely surfing, and is known for its colonial heritage, beach communities, mountains, and volcanoes. Directly outside the upscale resorts, however, are numerous impoverished communities which depend on medical care provided by overburdened government clinics.
