The number of persons with disabilities who are placed in jobs is very low, with a
rate of about one placement each year.
Health Services
The Ministry of Health (MINSA) provides rehabilitation services for persons with disabilities nationwide. Services are available through hospitals that are located in the main cities of geographical departments around the country.22
Users are reportedly satisfied with these services.23 Although the government does not provide technical aids for persons with disabilities, some national organizations that are linked to international NGOs do provide such items. The "Aldo Chavarría" National Rehabilitation Hospital in Managua is funded by the Ministry of Health while the "Oscar Danilo Rosales" Hospital in León is primarily supported by donations from international contributors.24
The MINSA coordinates community-based rehabilitation strategies at the national level. The actual programs have not yet been assessed.25
The Ministry of Health provides training on the provision of care to people with disabilities for both medical students and public health physicians who work in related fields.26 The following programs exist: physical therapy, occupational therapy, physiatry training for nurses and other health professionals, prosthetics and orthotics, and speech therapy. Physical therapy and physiatry training are considered priorities.27 The UNAN, located in Managua, and the "Oscar Danilo Rosales" Teaching Hospital, located in León, offer training courses on the provision of care to persons with disabilities.28
Although disability-related training is available to all health professionals,
the number of professionals who have had such training varies by field.
Approximately 10% of all physicians from the MINSA take advantage of these
courses. This figure includes those who specialize in disability-related fields.
Among general doctors, approximately 3% have received some training on the
provision of services to people with disabilities, as have approximately 20% of
rural health promoters and 50 percent of nurses and medical assistants.29
Housing
The Nicaraguan Institute for Urban and Rural Housing does not currently
have any programs for providing housing for persons with disabilities. Similarly,
there are no subsidies available for assistance with housing costs for persons
with disabilities.30
22.U.S. Department of State, "Nicaragua: Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 1999," 23 February 2000, http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/1999/39.htm.
23. Panel discussion.
24. Gustavo R. Siles(Academic Vice-Rector, UNAN), interviewed by author, Managua, February 2003; Héctor Collado.
25. http://fs1.ops.org.ni/opsnic/tematicas/rehabilita/logros.htm.
26.Héctor Collado.
27. Héctor Collado; Gustavo R. Siles; Rosa Eva Orellana (Medical Doctor, Head of Rehabilitation of the "Oscar Danilo Rosales" Teaching Hospital), interviewed by author, León, February 2003.
28.Gustavo R. Siles; Rosa Eva Orellana.
29. Hector Collado.
30. Francisco García, Engineer (Head of Staff of the Institute for Urban and Rural Housing), interviewed by author, Managua, February 2003.