Latin America Collection

Tap water in most major cities on the Pacific coast is generally
safe to drink. In cities like Granada, even the expats drink the tap
water.
Always be leery of tap water in rural areas and beach towns. The
rule of thumb is: if locals aren't drinking the tap water, you
shouldn't either. And even if they are, you should think twice
about it.
The tap water, albeit up to government standards, might not be
up to your own gastrointestinal standards of cleanliness. Even
the water in Granada has been known to cause GI problems
among some expats, and the situation isn't going to improve
much in the near future (Granada built its city dump right next
to the aquifer, so it's only a matter of time before the garbage
begins to leech into the drinking water).
Bottled water is always a safer bet (no matter where you are), and
is readily available at most corner stores, pharmacies and


restaurants throughout the country. Careful when buying the
bags of water on the street in Managua. You don't know where
that water is coming from, and you can be sure it hasn't been
tested.
Be careful of ice cubes since they are sometimes made with tap
water you are trying to avoid. The same goes for salads with
tomatoes and lettuce, or buying fruit drinks or flavored ice in the
park.
Be careful of contaminated water, in all its sneaky forms.
Hepatitis A is an awful illness, from which it takes a long time to
recover (take it from the author).
Don't eat food on the street. Even though those meat kabobs in
the park smell good, they are covered in bus fumes and fly-
transmitted horse excrement.
Hospital Bautista is a full-service institution.


Careful when eating red meat. Typhoid fever (a member of the
salmonella family) is an awful illness, from which it takes a very
long time to recover (take it from the author).
Wash your hands often, and wear mosquito repellant during the
day. Dengue is not fun (take it from the author).
Health Care
Nicaragua's health care system received a strong shot-in-the-arm
in May 2004, with the inauguration of Managua's $23-million
world-class Hospital Metropolitano Vivian Pellas (tel. (505)
255-6900, http://www.metropolitano.com.ni), billed as the
best private hospital in all of Central America.
Located at Kilometer 9 on the Carretera Masaya (heading
toward Granada), Vivian Pellas Hospital is open 24 hours a day,
an employs more than 300 of Nicaragua's leading medical
specialists (many of whom speak English) in gynecology,
cardiology, orthopedics, pediatric, internal medicine, surgery,
neurology, urology, anesthesiology and ophthalmology, among
other specialties.
The hospital also has a modern emergency room, pain clinic,
maternity ward, pharmacy and first-class laboratory that can run
all the same tests as a North American or European hospital, for
a fraction of the cost ($3.50-$22).
Unlike overcrowded hospitals in the United States,
Metropolitano Vivian Pellas is very accessible for a walk-in
appointment, although calling ahead is recommended.
The hospital is also easy on the wallet. Hospitalization only costs
$98 a day (plus a $300 deposit), and procedures that are


unaffordable for patients without health insurance in the United
States are economically feasible here.
Vivian Pellas also offers "executive check-ups" for men and
women, including full lab work (cholesterol, liver, stool cultures,
urinalysis, etc), abdominal ultrasounds and electrocardiograms
starting at $170 (for men under 40) to $400 (for women over
40), including gynecological exam and mammography.
Hospital Privado Salud Integral (tel. (505) 266-1707,
http://www.hospitalsaludintegral.com), in Managua, also has
state-of-the art 24 hour emergency service, with operating
rooms, intensive care, clinical laboratory, and endoscopy.
Private consultations range from $21-$25 dollars, and a they
have four types of rooms to chose from for hospitalization,
ranging from $40 to $100/ night.
The new Japanese hospital on the outskirts of Granada.


Hospital Bautista (tel; 249-7070) is Managua is a 75-year-old
private hospital that was the best hospital in Nicaragua until the
newer clinics opened in recent years. But Bautista is still a very
competent and affordable clinic, with a level of personal care that
ought to shame U.S. hospitals.
An affiliate of the Baptist Health Systems of South Florida,
Bautista offers all the same services of Vivian Pellas, but with a
less-shiny coat of paint.
Two new $30-million hospitals are scheduled to be built in
Managua in the coming years. One of them reportedly will be a
world-class children's hospital.
In Granada, the Private Hospital Cocibolca (552-2907) will
work in a pinch, or Hospital Amistad Japón Nicaragua (552-
7049) in a real pinch best healthcare in Nicaragua is located in
the capital. The further away you get from Managua, the more
rustic the health services.
Recommended Doctors In Granada:
Dr. Francisco Blanco (Speaks some English)
*General practice, surgery
Clinica de Especialidades Piedra Bocona,
on Calle Libertad
Tel. (505) 552-5989
Dr. Pedro Iglesias
*General Medicine, Surgery
Frente a la Farmacia los Angeles, Calle Aravesada
Tel. (505) 552-4179


For full, extensive listing of U.S. Embassy recommended doctors
in Managua, visit webpage:
http://www.usembassy.state.gov/managua/wwwhcon14.html
Dental Care
The cost of dental work is affordable in Nicaragua, and it is easy
to find dentists who can perform routine cleanings and cavity
work.
For more complicated procedures, Centro Integral de
Especialidades Dentales (270-3054) in Colonial los Robles in
Managua offers a wide range of orthodontry and cosmetic
surgery. Managua's Clinica Medico Dental (266-1553) also
offers dental surgery.
U.S. Embassy-recommended Dentist List:
Dr. Manuel I. Calderón
Office Phone/Fax: 265-1613
Clinica: 2:30-6:30 pm, M-F
Address: South Hwy Km 6 1/2
Cell Phone: 077-81486
mailto:NoDoctor@tmx.com.ni
English: Fair
Dr. Brenda Cuevas
Office Phone: 249-3208/1
Clinica Orthopedics-Trauma:
8:00 am-noon, 2:30-4:00 pm, M-F
Address: Ciudad Jardin M-7
Fax: 249-3277
Home: 249-5684
Cell Phone: 077-83377
Hospital Affiliation: Baptist


mailto:daguilar@ibw.com.ni
English: Poor
Dr. Guillermo López
Office Phone: 266-1706
Clínica: 2:00-6:00 pm, M-F
Address: El Gueguense Circle 5 blocks west and
1 1/2 blocks north
Home: 266-1120
English: Poor
Dr. David Madriz
Office Phone: 276-1603
Clinica: 8:00 am-5:00 pm, M-F;
8:00 am-12:00 noon, Sat.
Address: Shopping Ctr, Las Colinas
Cell Phone: 088-34562
mailto:drmadriz@cablenet.com.ni
English: Good
Dr. Martha Montalvan
Office Phone: 276-1603
Clínica: 8:00 am-5:00 pm, M-F;
8:00 am-12 noon, Sat.
Address: Shopping Ctr, Las Colinas
Cell Phone: 088-34562
mailto:drmadriz@cablenet.com.ni
English: Good
DENTIST (PEDIATRIC)
Dr. Paulino Castellon
Office Phone: 266-2122
Clinica: 10:00 am-12:00 noon, 2:30-5:30 pm, M-F
Address: From Plaza España 3 blocks west,


1 block north
Fax: 266-7099
Home: 269-0419
Cell Phone: 088-20955
Hospital Affiliation: Baptist
mailto:Santiago@ibw.com.ni
English: Good
DENTAL SURGEON
Dr. Alejandro Stadthagen
Office Phone: 268-2583
Clinica: 9:00 am-12:00 noon, 2:00-5:00 pm,
M-F by appt.
Address: From El Gueguense circle 2 1/2 blocks west,
next door to Dr. Bustamante clínica
Fax: 266-5279
English: Excellent
DENTIST-BRACES ORTHODONTICS
Dr. Marvin Gomez
Office Phone: 266-4451
Clinica: 10:00 am-12:00 noon, 2:00-4:00 pm
Address: Plaza España, Edificio Málaga B-6
Fax: 268-3168
Home: 278-4924
Cell Phone: 088-25030
Pharmacies
Pharmacies (farmacias) are located on virtually every other
corner in most major cities, and generally carry adequate supplies
of most commonly use medicines at the least expensive prices
(overall) in Central America.


Most of the brand-name medicines you are used to North
America or Europe will go by their generic or scientific name
here. But most medicines and antibiotics are widely available and
usually don't cost more than $10-20 for a prescription.
Cosmetic Surgery
Nicaragua is neither Rio or Caracas. Cosmetic surgery here is
usually limited to corrective procedures (ie. cleft palate) or skin
grafts for burn victims.
Nicaragua's only plastic surgery school, the UNAN in León, has
existed for 10 years with the support of the University of
Wisconsin. But in the last decade, the school has only graduated
four plastic surgeons.
A full-service Nicaraguan Pharmacy.


For cosmetic plastic surgery, Saint Dominic Clinic (277-1959)
in Managua has with several foreign trained doctors who
specialize in liposuction and breast, stomach and face work.
Before going under the knife, here are several things to consider:
(1) Ask the U.S. Embassy for a list of certified plastic surgeons.
(2) Also check with the Colegio de Médicos (the local equivalent
of the A.M.A.) to see if a particular doctor is a real plastic
surgeon. (3) Ask a local family doctor for a recommendation of
a good plastic surgeon. (4) Talk with former patients of the
doctor of your choice before you make a decision. Find out if
they are pleased with the results of their surgery.
Care for the Elderly
Since hired help is so inexpensive you can hire a full-time
domestic to take care of an infirm person. A full-time maid to
take care of a sick or elderly person shouldn't cost more than $80
a month.