By Dorothy Granada

(Dorothy Granada is a US-born peace activist and nurse who has lived and worked in Nicaragua for many years. She has been honored many times for her work with women and children by the Nicaraguan government, the Central American Parliament, and the North Caribbean Autonomous Region, among others. The hospital in Matiguas is named after her. She lives in Matagalpa.)

If you missed Parts I or II of this series, you can read them here and here.

The work on violence against women and children in the early 2000s

As we invited more women to gatherings to share their stories of abuse, more and more women took courage and came forward. Karla Rojas, a member of the Cooperative whom we had sent to the Police Academy (where she graduated at the top of her class), returned and opened the first office of the Women’s Commissary in the countryside. This was a project of the National Police to confront violence against women and children. There were already several in cities. There were no police in Mulukukú.  When Karla had to make an arrest of an abuser she had to gather women, often staff from the clinic to accompany her.  It was dangerous work since many of the men were very violent.  One day, from my consulting room, I called for a staff member for assistance.  No one answered my call and I found that all the staff had responded to Karla´s urgent request to stop a murder in progress in the village.  A man was attacking his female partner with a machete.  He had warned her against attending meetings at our clinic, but she continued.  After the man had been marched off to the small jail amid a group of women, I learned that when the group arrived breathless at the victim’s house, they demanded that the man stop assaulting the woman.  Karla realized that she had no handcuffs and asked for a belt.  A leather belt was quickly pulled off the shorts of one of our staff causing her shorts to fall to her ankles.  The man’s hands were tied. And off they went and locked him up until police from Rio Blanco could collect him.  We patched up the woman whose wounds were, fortunately, superficial and gave her a calming cup of tea and lots of hugs.

One day an 11-year-old boy arrived having escaped from his family where he was abused by his step-father.  The boy removed his shirt and we were shocked to see fresh and old wounds caused by beatings from a strap.  The boy was welcomed into a family in the community as another son.  No one from his family ever came looking for him.

At the clinic, after vital signs were taken and a health record retrieved or begun, the Cooperative member who was studying psychology met with each abused woman a bit apart from others to provide some privacy and asked about conditions in the home. This gave the woman the space and a concerned woman to listen.  Many told of violence they were experiencing: financial abuse, restrictions on their movements, psychological, sexual and physical abuse. This information was included in a treatment plan for each.

In a four-month period, five women had been murdered in the village by their male partners.  The Cooperative held a march in protest through town with signs demanding that the violence be stopped.  I told Karla that she couldn’t continue to rely on untrained women to capture potentially dangerous men and she needed trained police officers to work with her.  We petitioned the National Police and received six policemen, but no budget. They would receive a small stipend from the National Police.  Some were former Contra. There was no place for them to live.

I did not feel justified in using money designated for health work to provide for the police.  Using personal funds, I bought and furnished a house, bags of rice and beans, a bucket of cooking oil and other essentials and utensils for simple meals.  We found a woman who would cook.  The men were told that they would clean the house and wash their own clothes. The men needed uniforms and boots which we supplied.  I advised Karla that I would not buy guns and she found them somehow.  Karla oriented them to their work and began the arduous task of educating them about the problem of violence against women and children.  Unlearning machismo is not easy.  Some were learning respect in place of fear and violence for the first time.

A group of Nonviolent Men formed who offered alternatives to violence to men and boys as well as serving as a support group to men returning from prison having been sent for violence against women.  The Nonviolent Men´s Group helped returning former violators integrate into their families and often helped them find ways to move forward, sometimes securing loans to start businesses, to earn money to support their families. I was very proud of this group of Sandinista men who embraced former enemies helping them to regain their lives.

Several Cooperative members were attending weekend university classes in Matagalpa in law and psychology.  One of our clinic workers was sent to Bilwi to attend nursing school.  She infrequently was able to visit her family since the trip to and from Bilwi on unpaved roads and blown out bridges required a minimum of 16 hours in a private vehicle, at best, more hours on public transportation.

During the 17 years of Liberal governments health care for the poor had deteriorated. But hospitals had private wards that were sparkly clean with sheets on the beds.  Health Centers in the countryside were abandoned.  The Regional Hospital in Matagalpa wanted nothing to do with our clinic. My name was poison.

When we had a critical patient that needed hospitalization our one recourse was to call Dr. Henry Davila, then second in charge of the Health Department for the Department of Matagalpa.  We put the patient and a family member in our pick-up, a closed vehicle with only a small space for a recumbent patient. I recall a tall man who had to make the entire trip with his knees bent to his chin.  I urged the driver to hurry but to please avoid an accident. Dr. Davila received the patient night or day at the emergency entrance at the Regional Hospital and insured that appropriate care was given.  Dr. Davila was a Sandinista who kept a low profile and did his best to help the poor receive health care.  He is currently Director of the Regional Hospital.in Matagalpa and continues to a hero of mine and a valued friend.

One of the results of stopping health services in the countryside was the resurgence of pulmonary tuberculosis.  Persons with TB had no access to continued treatment. Members of their families, especially children, frequently developed chronic coughs. We held special clinics for persons with chronic coughs.  If a patient had a cough no longer than two weeks, we treated her or him with antibiotics.  Patients with coughs of longer duration and those previously diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis we gave to each three sterile containers and asked them to collect early morning specimens of sputum.  The laboratory at the Health Center in Rio Blanco read the specimens.  If a positive result was found and the patient required a period in a hospital for treatment, a Sandinista doctor at the hospital in Matiguas agreed to accept him or her.

As we were identifying under-nourished children and organizing Soy Kitchens with mothers, there was one barrio in which it was harder to get the program going. Heads of families were primarily former Contra combatants.  After some struggle, the Kitchen began functioning.  The mothers did their part and the children began to gain weight and their health improved with a better diet and having their other health needs met.  After a few months, mothers and their children began falling away.  Finally, no one attended.  I visited each of the mothers and asked why she abandoned the program when she could see that the health of her child was improving. No answer was given nor could any of the mothers look me in the eye.

Part of our effort to improve children´s nutrition was to establish vegetable gardens in grade schools.  Students, parents and teachers were enthusiastic and participated.  The program began to fail when we neglected to adequately plan for vacations.

Often, I was called to visit an older sick person who was restricted to bed and unable to come to the clinic.  Invariably, I discovered the person tucked away in a dark corner at the back of the house.  I urged the family to move the older person to the front of the house where there was light, perhaps a window through which he or she could see trees, hear birds and feel the sun. They could also see their grand-children and had the opportunity of participating in the life of the family. Frequently i moved the person myself with the family assisting.

Through the years I noticed a diminishing of revolutionary spirit.  I kept expecting someone from the Frente to come and breathe new life into the spirits of people to rekindle the fire.  Thinking that the FSLN was busy doing this in the cities and that, eventually, they would reach the campo.  No one ever came.

When electricity arrived in the village, everyone was joyous.  In the clinic, we could attend births without using only flash lights. The day after electricity arrived a truck appeared in the village carrying television sets which families bought with weekly payments (ultimately paying more than double the original price).  TV antennas were sprouting from the humblest homes.  Adults and children were mesmerized with serial stories of upper-class Brazilians and Mexicans, even shedding tears over the woes of the rich.

Every two years I visited communities in the U.S. who supported our health work, reporting on the work they enabled and asking for continued help.  Our work was composed of three parts: the people served, those who generously provided resources, and the team in Mulukukú. Thus, a triangle of solidarity. At a gathering in Santa Fe, New Mexico, a Chicano named Santiago asked me what I needed besides money since we were meeting the physical needs of children and the grade school was functioning.

I was concerned that the spirits of children were not being nourished.  I responded, “We need an artist for the children.”  Santiago said, “I am an artist and I will work with the children.” Santiago made many visits for extended periods to Mulukukú.  He taught groups of children to draw and paint.  He and the children gathered clay from the river bank and created beautiful as well as more humble figures.  They built an oven to bake their work.  Santiago was among the greatest of many gifts of solidarity.

To be continued…. 

(If you have memories of your work in solidarity with Nicaragua, write an article for NicaNotes! Contact Katherine Hoyt at kathy@afgj.org. Many of us are getting old. It’s time to write it all down!)

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Briefs 
By Nan McCurdy

Extremely Heavy Rains Cause Floods and Tragedies
The torrential downpours of the night of Oct. 18 caused flooding, landslides and other tragic incidents. Kevin Sotelo, 10 years old, was swept away that evening by the currents of a river in the community of Chaguitillo, municipality of Villa Sandino, Chontales. The little boy, his mother Rosibel Pérez and his father Francisco Sotelo, were on their way home. When they crossed the El Bosque creek, they were swept away by the strong currents which snatched the child from their arms. At 10:00 p.m. the child’s body was found several kilometers from the tragedy. Kevin is one of four children who died as a result of Friday’s rains. The others were Dereck Arias of Rivas, eight years old, who was swept away while riding his bicycle to his grandmother’s house and Mari Rodriguez, 9, and Frania Marin, 11, of Chontales, also swept away by a fast-rising river. Citizens have been urged to exercise extreme caution and avoid crossing rivers or flooded areas, as weather conditions remain unpredictable.

Many institutions are working in coordination with the communities to provide support and assistance to affected families. The torrential downpours caused rivers and drains to overflow, affecting mobility in different parts of Nicaragua. In the municipality of Ciudad Sandino, several neighborhoods have been cut off due to the height of the water, while in Puente El Edén [central Managua], traffic was interrupted due to the intense currents. (La Primerisima, 19 October 2024)

IMF Expects Nicaraguan Economy to Grow 4% This Year
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) improved its growth projections for Nicaragua’s economy for 2024, raising it from 3.5% to 4%, stating that it would be, along with Costa Rica, the fastest growing economy in Central America. In its annual World Economic Outlook (WEO), published on Oct. 21, the IMF predicted that Nicaragua’s Gross Domestic Product would grow 4% this year and 3.8% in 2025. On the occasion of the 2024 Annual Meetings of the IMF and the World Bank Group, held in Washington, DC between October 21 and 26, both multilaterals published updates of the economic outlook. First, on October 9, the World Bank maintained its growth projection saying that Nicaragua and Costa Rica would be the fastest growing economies in the region in 2024 with 4% growth. Guatemala is the largest economy in Central America but according to the IMF, in 2024 it will grow 3.5% and in 2025 it will increase to 3.6%. For Honduras, the Monetary Fund forecasts growth at 3.6%. If these scenarios play out, Costa Rica and Nicaragua will be the fastest growing economies in 2024, while by 2025 Nicaragua will lead regional growth. (Informe Pastran, 22 October 2024)

Hundreds of Women Receive Attention at Health Fair in Managua
A mega fair of integral attention for women was held on Oct. 19 at the Dr. Ligia Altamirano Women’s Health Center in Managua. During the day, uterine and pelvic ultrasounds were performed, as well as mammograms, pap smears, biopsies and overall gynecological attention. This activity took place in commemoration of World Breast Cancer Day. The objective is to evaluate and detect cancerous diseases early, so that they can be treated in time. See photos: https://radiolaprimerisima.com/centenares-de-mujeres-atendidas-en-feria-de-salud-en-managua/ (La Primerisima, 19 October 2024)

Ease of Pre-enrollment in Universities
Authorities from the National Universities Council reported that more than 25,000 students have successfully completed their online pre-enrollment during the seventh day of this process. The single admission system allows applicants to easily complete this process from anywhere in the country and from any device with internet, guaranteeing access to free and quality higher education as part of the restoration of rights provided by the Sandinista Government to families. It was reported that this year more than 75,000 high school graduates will be able to opt for one of the 400 specialties offered by universities throughout the national territory. (La Primerisima, 19 October 2024)

Paul Oquist’s Contributions to the Revolution Valued
An emotional ceremony was held on Oct. 18, to remember the life and legacy of Dr. Paul Oquist on the occasion of the 81st anniversary of his birth. Anecdotes were shared about his quality as a human being, commitment to Nicaragua, his contribution to the struggle for social justice, to the eradication of poverty and to climate justice with reparations to countries suffering the consequences of climate change without being the cause. During the activity, the former building of the Central Bank of Nicaragua was named in his honor as the Secretary of the Presidency Paul Oquist Kelley Building.

At the time of his death, Oquist was Private Secretary of the Presidency for National Policies and represented the country at the Conferences of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COPs). He actively supported and formulated the proposal for the organization of the Green Climate Fund of which he later became president, representing developing countries. In the 1980s, he supported the revolutionary government in state management and organization and he and his team were responsible for calculating the damages from the US war of aggression against Nicaragua, resulting in the estimated amount of compensation of $17 billion dollars. The International Court of Justice (World Court) had approved compensation for Nicaragua in its historic 1986 judgment [The US has never paid].

Foreign Minister Valdrack Jaentschke highlighted Oquist’s valuable work during the first stage of the Revolution as well as in the second stage to carry out the transformations in a new context. “In this tribute to our brother Paul is the presence and special affection of President Daniel Ortega and Vice President Rosario Murillo with whom he worked most of his life, analyzing, studying, informing, proposing and executing tasks; always in total immersion and commitment in favor of the Nicaraguan people and the Revolution,” he said. Jaentschke highlighted the struggle and the firm voice of the Revolution on the issue of the destruction of the planet as a result of savage capitalism. He went on to say, “In this tribute we celebrate [Paul’s] life, commitment, loyalty, courage, love for Nicaragua and his invaluable contributions to the Nicaraguan people and the Revolution.” [Paul Oquist, who was a naturalized citizen of Nicaragua, was born in Illinois and received his Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley. He studied in Chile and taught in Colombia.] (La Primerisima, 19 October 2024)

Peace and Economic stability Fundamental for Development in Nicaragua
On October 21, journalist and FSLN National Assembly Deputy, Adolfo Pastrán, participated in Channel 4’s En Vivo Magazine TV interview show, where he commented on the results of the M&R Consultores survey. Pastrán highlighted the importance of peace and economic stability as fundamental pillars for Nicaragua’s development. According to the survey, 94.9% of Nicaraguans perceive that there is peace in the country, and 94.3% believe that peace should not be put at risk under any circumstances. Pastrán stressed that peace is an “indispensable asset” for socio-economic progress and for the well-being of families. He praised the work of the police and the army in citizen security, highlighting the low crime rate, with 6 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants [the lowest in the region]. He emphasized that what the survey highlights most is that security is not only physical, but also economic. The population feels that their assets and their ability to progress are protected. Pastran also pointed out that democracy in Nicaragua is experienced not only as the right to elect authorities, but also as the commitment to improving the quality of life of citizens. He said that the FSLN government has transformed the concept of democracy, fulfilling promises and bringing social welfare, such as subsidies in energy, transportation and housing. Finally, Adolfo Pastrán emphasized that Nicaragua is heading towards a promising future, with works in progress, such as the Punta Huete International Airport and the coastal highway. He also mentioned that the country is seeking to strengthen its international position through its participation in the BRICS summit, which could further boost economic development in the coming years. (Canal4.com.ni, 21 October 2024)

Cattle Owners Produce 267.3 million Pounds of Beef in 2024
From January to September of this year, a national beef production of 267.3 million pounds was registered, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock. The Ministry emphasizes that these results show good performance, with sufficient levels to supply internal consumption by Nicaraguan families and for exports. (La Primerisima, 21 October, 2024)

Europeans Meet in Solidarity with Nicaragua
On October 21 and 22, a European Conference in solidarity with Nicaragua took place in Madrid, Spain. The title of the meeting was “United for Independence and Sovereignty.” The Conference was attended by more than 60 participants from 25 organizations involved in solidarity and internationalism – this included trade union and political organizations. Representatives from the Embassies of Nicaragua, Cuba and Venezuela attended as did, via video link, two senior Nicaraguan government officials – Orlando Tardencilla, advisor to the President of the Republic of Nicaragua for Policies and International Relations, and Brenda Rocha, President of the Supreme Electoral Council of Nicaragua. Read the message sent by the Nicaragua Government to the meeting: https://www.tortillaconsal.com/bitacora/node/5302  (NSCAG October Update; Tortillaconsal, 18 October 2024)