GROWING PAINS - STATUS OF EMERGENCY-MEDICINE IN NICARAGUA

Nicaragua is one of the poorest nations in the Western Hemisphere. The health of the population suffers as a result of poor nutrition, epide mic diseases, natural and manmade disasters, sporadic violence, urban industrial growth, and inadequate government funding for even basic me dical equipment and supplies. Within this environment, emergency servi ces development has been recognized as an important and cost-effective public health intervention. In recent years, government and nongovern mental agencies working together have had a dramatic positive impact o n the quality of emergency care provided.