Health Care

On an earlier post, we had spoken about Shannon's fall. A few weeks after everything seemed settled she had pain and swelling in the area below her knee. We asked the brothers and they directed us to a clinic, called Metropolitana. Health Care in Nicaragua is free and paid for by the government. But there are clinics that charge and provide better care.

So when we entered the clinic, Shannon asked the receptionist for a doctor that spoke English, we had to wait a few hours for him to return to the clinic.( But now we have a business card so that we can call in advance.) But at least it's a relaxing place to sit and wait, there was even a fountain in the middle.  

The doctor was very nice and prescribed me antibiotics for my infection. There are pharmacies on every corner so it was easy to get the medicine.
Cost of doctor visit: $21
Cost of medicine: $20.55

Shannon had a follow up a few weeks later, and went for an x-ray, there was no more infection only left over inflammation.
Cost of x-ray: $13

Everyone was very friendly, helpful, and nice.
If there was a serious problem, there are better hospitals in Managua.
In case anyone is ever in Leon, we were told to avoid the hospitals, because they are understaffed and
provide a lot of guess work in the diagnosis. Here is one of the hospitals:

 A sister in her 70s was visiting from Florida and was able to get an appendectomy at one of the local clinics for $2000 that worked out well. Her experience and Shannon's have given us more confidence in having our health care taken care of.