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INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL CONFERENCE Sponsored by Nicaraguan Ministry of Health Co-Sponsor World Health Organization Submitted to Dr. Aaron Perez Prepared by Diane Cook Office Assistant December 2, 2003 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 2 ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS 2 HISTORY 3 Crime 3 Economy 4 Climate 4 PROTOCOL AND CUSTOMS 4 Food and Drink 5 Money and Costs 6 HEALTH CARE 7 THINGS TO ARRANGE BEFORE YOU GO 8 SUMMARY 9 ITINERARY 10 MAP 12 BIBLIOGRAPHY 13 Nicaragua INTRODUCTION You are to attend a conference sponsored by the Ministry of Health in Managua, Nicaragua on Tropical Diseases. The conference will be for five days beginning January 7, 2004. You will be presenting on prevention of and medications for Malaria and Dengue (pronounced den' gee) Fever, which are prevalent in the country at this time. You also indicated that while you were there you would like to spend some time visiting some of the local clinics. I have prepared information for you on the customs, protocols, political climate, and other issues and concerns that you should be aware of. Also, I have made an itinerary, including lodging and car rental, for your approval. We have seventy-two hours to confirm the reservations. ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS A valid U.S. passport is required. U.S. citizens must have an onward or return ticket, and evidence of sufficient funds to support themselves. A tourist card valid for 90 days must be purchased upon arrival. A valid entry stamp is required to exit Nicaragua. Be sure to keep this safe or you will be fined and unable to leave the country (we would not want to lose you). Tourist card fees and airport departure taxes must be paid in U.S. dollars. The economy is primarily cash-based. Though many restaurants and hotels now accept credit cards and travelers checks, especially in Managua, acceptance is not wide spread and local currency should be taken with you when you travel to the various clinics. Typhoid, polio, tetanus, diphtheria and gamma globulin (or Hepatitis A) is recommended vaccinations prior to leaving the U.S., particularly for an extended stay. HISTORY Nicaragua is in Central America and is bounded by the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. It is slightly smaller than the state of New York. Pre-colonial Nicaragua was occupied by two distinct ethnic groups, the Aztecs and Maya. Throughout the colonial era the political economy was dominated by the Spanish, the British, the French, and the Dutch. Mostly, the Spanish ruled with the support of the Catholic Church and it is still nominally a Roman Catholic nation. In 1838, Nicaragua declared itself a sovereign state with a democratic system of government. They then came under the influence of the British and the Americans. Over the decades there have been many political upheavals with several different types of government coming to the fore, including dictatorship and military control. There has been many accusations of extreme political corruption. The current government has a President, assisted by a Deputy and Cabinet of Ministers. Legislative power rests with the National Assembly and all terms are for five years. CRIME: Like any major city in any country, violent crime in Managua and other cities is increasing, and street crimes are common. Pick-pocketing and occasional armed robberies occur on crowded buses and in open markets. Carjacking and gang activity are rising, although most frequently in poorer neighborhoods, but has occurred in the areas surrounding major hotels and open-air markets. Visitors may want to avoid walking and utilize official red taxicabs. Depending on how rusty your Spanish is, you might want to inquire at the U.S. Embassy for interpreter services while in the city. They have received reports of con artists defrauding tourists. Economy: Agriculture is the main component of Nicaragua’s economy, with cotton, coffee, sugar, bananas and meat the principal exports. Maize, beans and rice are grown for domestic consumption. The principal manufacturing industries are food, drinks, the production of chemicals and oil refining. There is also a small mining industry that works deposits of gold, silver, lead and zinc.
Approximate Word count = 2646
Approximate Pages = 10.6
(250 words per page double spaced)
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