A little background information

Hurricane Felix

Nicaragua is among the poorest countries in Latin America and has been struggling to recover from almost three decades of armed conflict and natural disasters. Hurricane Felix, which affected the northern Atlantic Coast, is the latest in this series of setbacks. The area of Nicaragua most affected, the Región Autonoma del Atlantico Norte (RAAN), is historically isolated and underserved due to a combination of factors. No paved road connects the Atlantic and Pacific Coasts. Additionally, the two coasts are culturally and linguistically distinct. The scarcity of resources in this nation combined with the geographic isolation of the Atlantic Coast, have resulted in an especially vulnerable population. Felix, a Category 5 storm, added to this burden (September 4, 2007), affecting over 180,000 people in Nicaragua and leading to over 100 deaths. The destruction of homes, public buildings, and water facilities by Hurricane Felix has led to lasting public health issues and exacerbated disease burdens.

Collaborative Sahsa Health Initiative (CSHI)

The Collaborative Sahsa Health Initiative (CSHI) aims to use a geographic surveillance system to asses the household health care needs in the Sahsa area of Región Autonoma del Atlantico Norte (RAAN) in Nicaragua with an emphasis on the burden of diarrheal diseases. This project will complement current efforts by the University of Nicaragua, León (UNAN). During the summer, 8 UNC medical students will work in an integrated team with UNAN faculty and students and local community health workers to collect household data through developed questionnaires. Following the data collection, the Geographic Information System will allow for the integration of data into a map which can then be utilized to pinpoint disease and health patterns. Analysis with ArcGIS software will provide a foundation for the design of future interventions by UNAN, UNC, and the community. The Center for Epidemiology and Health (CIDS) within UNAN has utilized this methodology for their surveillance system in León, and thus, has extensive experience. Additional information will be collected on the existing health infrastructure through interviews with community leaders and brigadistas (health promoters). Finally, a series of public health workshops will be conducted for these local volunteer health workers on topics including malaria and water sanitation.