What To Do In Emergencies
This is one area that is lacking in Nicaragua. The medical services are great (in major cities), the police and firemen exist and people are willing to help but getting there is a problem.
Reliable ambulance services do not exist. There are several such services in Granada but they may not answer the phone nor respond quickly. Of course, the reason they exist in the states and Europe is due to high property and other taxes. You cannot pay $100 a year property taxes and expect much in return.
We have an excellent doctor in Granada and we have his cell phone number but he is only human and cannot be expected to answer all calls immediately. My wife often does not answer her phone always, something about women not having pockets, I believe. Even the modern hospitals in Managua are not stellar at answering their phones. Calls to police may not be answered or the response may be hours.
Your best bet is to grab a taxi if you live in the city or have friends that have a car. Remember, few expats here even have an automobile. This is why it is so important to network with other expats, neighbors and locals.
General Emergency Information
Metropolitano Hospital in Managau (Vivian Pellas)
For people that are new here or for those traveling to Nicaragua you may run into a need for emergency or other medical service. By now you know that the Pellas is an excellent hospital though there are several almost as good and better, depending on your needs.
Even a hospital as modern as Pellas has the typical Nica problems like not answering the phone. If you get stuck in this situation, here is the contact information for a very helpful person which speaks English. She heads up the medical tourism office at Pellas.
Arlen Pérez - Speaks English
Medical Tourism Manager
aperez@metropolitano.com.ni
Phone: (505)2255-6900
Ext: 8-4013
Cellular: (505) 8464 - 0084
US: (305) 396 - 2351
http://www.metropolitano.com.ni/internationalpatients/
Police Phone Numbers for Granada
The numbers at the Granada police switchboard are:
2552-2929 2552-2977 cel 8809 5105 - All in Spanish.
8391-5997 Tourist Police
8464-0122 Lt. Amaru Alfaro - English and Spanish
8966-5533 Chief Fatima Flores – Spanish
8971-4268 2nd Chief Francisco Sanchez – Spanish
You can also call 118 free from any cel phone (Spanish spoken). And 101 from Claro phones also free ( English and Spanish Spoken)
DB - No one has a higher opinion of the police than I do but..... it can sometimes be difficult to get someone to answer the phone. That's why your property taxes are very low. The 3 digit phone numbers go to Managua then they forward the call to Granada.
Reliable ambulance services do not exist. There are several such services in Granada but they may not answer the phone nor respond quickly. Of course, the reason they exist in the states and Europe is due to high property and other taxes. You cannot pay $100 a year property taxes and expect much in return.
We have an excellent doctor in Granada and we have his cell phone number but he is only human and cannot be expected to answer all calls immediately. My wife often does not answer her phone always, something about women not having pockets, I believe. Even the modern hospitals in Managua are not stellar at answering their phones. Calls to police may not be answered or the response may be hours.
Your best bet is to grab a taxi if you live in the city or have friends that have a car. Remember, few expats here even have an automobile. This is why it is so important to network with other expats, neighbors and locals.
General Emergency Information
Metropolitano Hospital in Managau (Vivian Pellas)
For people that are new here or for those traveling to Nicaragua you may run into a need for emergency or other medical service. By now you know that the Pellas is an excellent hospital though there are several almost as good and better, depending on your needs.
Even a hospital as modern as Pellas has the typical Nica problems like not answering the phone. If you get stuck in this situation, here is the contact information for a very helpful person which speaks English. She heads up the medical tourism office at Pellas.
Arlen Pérez - Speaks English
Medical Tourism Manager
aperez@metropolitano.com.ni
Phone: (505)2255-6900
Ext: 8-4013
Cellular: (505) 8464 - 0084
US: (305) 396 - 2351
http://www.metropolitano.com.ni/internationalpatients/
Police Phone Numbers for Granada
The numbers at the Granada police switchboard are:
2552-2929 2552-2977 cel 8809 5105 - All in Spanish.
8391-5997 Tourist Police
8464-0122 Lt. Amaru Alfaro - English and Spanish
8966-5533 Chief Fatima Flores – Spanish
8971-4268 2nd Chief Francisco Sanchez – Spanish
You can also call 118 free from any cel phone (Spanish spoken). And 101 from Claro phones also free ( English and Spanish Spoken)
DB - No one has a higher opinion of the police than I do but..... it can sometimes be difficult to get someone to answer the phone. That's why your property taxes are very low. The 3 digit phone numbers go to Managua then they forward the call to Granada.
