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RAAN - Waspam Rio Coco |
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Physical Description Waspam Río Coco is located on the northeastern Nicaraguan border in the North Atlantic Autonomous Region (RAAN). Approximately 4,500 people live in the city of Waspam, the majority of which are indigenous Miskito people who maintain many of their culture and their own dialect, Miskito. Waspam is located approximately 560 kilometers to the northeast of Managua. Climate There are two seasons in Waspam: summer (dry) and the winter (wet). The wet season usually lasts from April to November and the dry season from December to March. Transportation There is air transport on the Costena three days a week between Managua and Waspam and Puerto Cabeza and Waspam (Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday). Buses leave from Waspam to Puerto Cabezas. There are usually one to three buses that make the 3-4 hour journey daily. There are boats that transport goods up and down the river however most are private and service is unpredictable. Economy Economic activity includes the sale of beans and rice, wood, small amounts of gold and services (stores, restaurants, and social services). Agriculture/Food Common crops include beans, rice, bananas, plantains, yucca, coconut and seasonal fruits (oranges, mangos, papayas, etc.). During the short summer months you will see locally grown tomatoes, cabbage, green peppers, cucumbers and pineapples in the market. During the winter/rainy months most vegetables are imported which is reflected in the higher prices. Restaurants/Night Life There are two restaurants in Waspam, one located on the waterfront and another by the baseball stadium. Several other cafes and street food vendors can be found around town. There are two main places to stay the night: Las Cabanas (safe and somewhat quiet, located off the main street and another hostel by the bus stop in the center of town (can be a little noisy). Other Places of Interest Waspam has a gas station, ice factory, radio station and receives two TV channels from Mexico and Spain. There are two major churches (Moravian and Catholic) and several other small churches. There are two elementary schools and one high school in Waspam. Non-Governmental Agencies (NGOs) There are several organizations working in Waspam. The largest was the European Union Project "Proyecto Wangki". The project temporarily shut down in 1997, after conflicts with the local government and its reopening is still pending. The Catholic Church has a convent, church, small clinic, and an elementary school in Waspam. The convent is run by 5 nuns, 2 of which are North American and 3 Nicaraguan. Acción Medica Cristiana also has a project in Waspam which principally works in the communities down river from Waspam working in health education and community development. They have recently opened a small office in Andis, a community located down river from Waspam. The Moravian Church has a small clinic with the facility to do simple surgeries located in Bilwas Karma, a community 10 kilometers from Waspam. Other NGOs include CEPAD and Seek the Lamb (Truman Cunningham). MINSA There is a government run Health Center in Waspam that has beds for emergency care. There are also several health posts located throughout the municipality. The staff is constantly changing due to rotations of staff to community health posts and doctors completing their social service commitment. My Counterpart was Fabiola Clarens who is a good resource and was very helpful. I have also found Doctor Elmer Martinez who works in the Catholic run clinic in Waspam and the personnel who work with Acción Medica Cristiana to be very helpful, informative and cooperative. Waspam Río Coco,
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