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Rural Water Quality
Collaborating with MINSA and ENACAL/DAR TASCA has installed and supported rural water-testing laboratories in El Cuá, Jinotega, Tuma-La Dalia and San Dionisio. These laboratories use the standard Millipore filtration method to detect the presence of fecal contamination in potable water. Later we validated, introduced and supported an inexpensive and simple field method for rural water testing which measures fecal contamination in water by detecting the presence of bacteria which produce hydrogen sulfide. This method does not require the use of a laboratory and is now extensively used by MINSA and other organizations in the Departments of Chontales, Jinotega, Madriz, Matagalpa and the RAAS. We have also contributed to the development of an inexpensive chlorinator for rural water supplies.
Public Health Laboratories
Collaborating with MINSA, TASCA has established provincial level public health laboratories in the Departments of Madriz and Jinotega, with a primary mission of monitoring drinking water quality in all areas of the Departments. TASCA continues to support the operation and development of these laboratories, as well as the Epidemiology laboratories in the Departments of Matagalpa and León and the laboratories of the Centro Nacional de Referencia y Diagnóstico (CNDR) in Managua, providing supplies, equipment and training of technicians. Support now extends beyond water testing to include surveillance of HIV, Dengue, Chagas, Leptospirosis, tuberculosis and antibiotic resistance.
Scholarship Program
Since 1996 TASCA has operated a scholarship program to improve the professional qualifications of Nicaraguan public health workers. The program has been very successful; since beginning in 1996 with two doctors from El Cuá studying towards the Masters in Public Health at the UNAN in León 73 have graduated, 15 at the Masters level (12 in Public Health, 2 in Epidemiology, one in Microbiology of Food & Water), 50 at the Bachelor level (37 in Clinical Bioanalysis, 8 in Nursing, one in Social Development and 4 in Administration), 6 at the technician level and 2 in professional nursing. To date only two students have dropped out of the program. Of the graduates all but six continue to work in the field of public health.
Currently TASCA is supporting the studies of 47 health workers from various parts of the country, half of whom are from rural communities.
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