The FreeClinic

A Day Visiting

In Nicaragua

Written and Photos By: Elisha Colip

While the Texas State Nursing Studentswere in Nicaragua, they ran free clinics for

people of the smaller communities. Sincethese communities tend to not have meansto see the doctor very often, a lot of times

the kids would come and be scared ornervous at the clinic. We wanted to write a

book to show kids what happens at theclinic and that the clinic helps them. The

book could also help the kids not be scaredof the nurses and doctors.

Idea and Book Layout: Holly Wise andElisha Colip

Welcome to myneighborhood. I live in a

town called Las Llomas inNicaragua. My name is Anna

and I am 6 years old.

This morning I was playingoutside when I saw a group of

people who looked different. Theywore clothes like doctors andtalked in a weird language.

"Buenas," the group said to us. My Mom told me they were nursesfrom a free doctor down the road.

My Mom brought them chairs to sitin.

They asked my mommylots of questions like myname, how old I was, andwhen we got to clean our

water last.

My tummy hurts all the time.The nurses tell my mom to takeme to the clinic. I am scared so

the nurses play with me and theother kids in the neighborhood.

After the nurses play, they saygoodbye and go to see my neighbor.They tell Louie and his mom to go to

the free clinic too. We never go tothe doctor because they are too far

away.

The next morning mommy wakesme up early. I get all dressed uplike I'm going to church. We leaveour home and make the long walk

to the clinic.

After walking for a longtime, we got to the clinic. A

cute puppy greeted us.

We walked inside theclinic. People were

everywhere walking andtalking and carrying

strange things.

They handed us a numberand asked us to wait

outside. There were lots ofmy neighbors waiting at the

clinic too!

When we went inside, I sawLouie with his mom and they

were wrapping somethingaround his arm. He was cryingand I was scared it would hurt.

I saw Mateo getting checked by the nurse. I was scaredto see the nurses becausemy tummy hurt really bad.

David was getting his breathingchecked. He was laughing and having fun.

When the nurses came to me,they were friendly. They poked me withdifferent tools and asked my mom lots

of questions.

After I was seen by thenurse, I got stickers! Thenurses that were notbusy played with me.

Then the doctor came to see me.He was nice to me and smiled ashe asked where my tummy hurt.He asked my mom for how long.

The doctor talked to thenurses and then gave my

mom a little sheet of paper.They sent us to a table with

medicine.

The nurses smiled andput medicine and gummy

vitamins into a little bag. Shehanded them to my mom.

After we got our medicine,it was time to leave. Isaid goodbye to all my

friends.

Outside the clinic, thenurses gave me and my

friends ice cream.

We left the clinic and walkedhome. My mom gave me medicine

and I felt better. I can't wait tillthe nurses come back next year!