Strengthening the health system from an intercultural approach

"The awakening of our culture that we were forgetting," said the director of the Institute of Traditional Medicine and Community Development (IMTRADEC), MSc. Serafina Espinoza, to the Diploma of the Family and Community Health Model (MOSAFC), promoted by the Ministry of Health (MINSA), in coordination with URACCAN from IMTRADEC, and in conjunction with the National Council of Indigenous Peoples of the Pacific, Central and North of Nicaragua. The MOSAFC officially closed with 49 investigative work at SILAIS Managua.

Research highlighted topics on the use of medicinal plants by midwives and on experience and context regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the graduate student, María Alejandra Centeno, "This experience was beneficial, in the case of our work, which was to gather knowledge in the approach of the empacho with midwives of the municipality of Comalapa, Chontales, left us a great experience because we see that what does not cure conventional medicine is cured by traditional medicine".

"The goal of the Diploma was to strengthen the knowledge that our traditional doctors have to be recognized by health personnel," MSc said. Espinoza, who also details that most of the participants of this diploma were doctors and nurses from the Pacific area, which contributes to a cultural recognition of the health system of the Nicaraguan Caribbean Coast.

Henry Galán, Master's Degree in Intercultural Health with a Focus on Reproductive and Sexual Health, teacher and jury of this diploma, emphasizes the importance of these educational programs, as they expose the linkage of scientific knowledge with knowledge based on natures. "This approach, that process of unity of these two knowledges, is going to allow Nicaragua to have a health model with an intercultural approach from the legal framework," Master Galán said.

Likewise, it emphasized the importance that natural medicine has had, and that has been contributing to society from generation to generation, allowing through this diploma the rescue of the different functions of the people who practice this model of health (midwives, midwives, sobadors, among others).

In order to further promote the contributions of natural medicine from Nicaragua's Caribbean Coast, URACCAN, committed to preparing men and women with knowledge and doing in balance and harmony with Mother Earth, as established in its Mission, will continue to work on programs that promote these practices, from comprehensive knowledge.