Inauguration

On the same Thursday we met with Dr. Pena we also went to the inauguration of a new hospital in El Sauce. The event was scheduled for 3PM 'Nicaragua time' (or maybe 4, depending on who you ask). As we have been told many times since starting work in Nicaragua, there is regular time and then there is Nicaragua time, which can mean that the person or thing you are waiting for may be 15 minutes to an hour late, or may just never show up. Life in Nicaragua is not about being in a hurry or constantly checking your watch; it is about taking the time to engage with others, it is about patience, and it is, in some cases, about survival.  Mothers arrive at the health clinic expecting to wait for hours for care, and we have spent enough time in Nicaragua to know not to show up at 3PM for this event.

It turns out that the concept of 'Nicaragua time' also carries over to completing projects, such as the new hospital. The inauguration event occurred on July 16th, the official opening date for 14 hospitals and 24 Child Development Centers throughout Nicaragua. Though the hospital structure, wiring, and much of the plumbing is finished, there is still plenty of work to be done and the true opening date has slid to mid-August.  The head Epidemiologist of the El Sauce health center said that the new hospital does have an X-ray room, although they have no X-ray machine, and they have space set aside for ultrasounds and laboratory work, although they lack a sonogram machine and some key lab equipment. It has capacity for 30 beds, and is much larger than the El Sauce health center. I truly hope that this initiative brings in adequate resources and doctors to utilize this space to its full potential. You can read more about this initiative here in Spanish and here in English.

Prepared for a delayed commencement, we lazily strolled over to the event, which did not actually start until 5:30. The majority of attendees was dressed in red and black - the colors of the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) - and at times it seemed more like a political rally than a celebration. The FSLN is the current party in power, the president of which (Daniel Ortega) is said to be responsible for the initiative to open these new centers. The FSLN is named after Augusto Cesar Sandino, a national hero, who led the Nicaraguan resistance against the United States occupation of Nicaragua in the 1930s. The small child sitting in front of me wore a shirt that said "Hay hombres que tienen la Revolucion en la boca, y viven de ella...Pero hay quienes la llevan en la sangre y mueren por Ella", which roughly translates to 'There are men who have the Revolution in their mouths and live for it, but there are those who carry it in their blood, and die for it'.  Amidst cheers of 'Viva Daniel!' we watched young women dance in traditional costume and style and listened to a band play songs praising the FSLN, the revolution and Daniel Ortega. Unfortunately, we had to leave early for dinner, but we were grateful to have been invited to the celebration.