Prómocion de Salud y Seguridad de Trabajadores (PROSSTRAB): A union-medical school partnership for improving occupational health in Nicaragua

Workers in Nicaragua face health challenges including exposures to harmful substances, physical injuries and lack of appropriate medical treatment for work-related illness. There are several strong medical training programs in Nicaragua; however, very few providers are trained specifically in occupational health and safety, leaving most occupational illnesses undiagnosed and untreated. Until recently, there was little communication and no coordination between the efforts of the labor and academic health sectors to address these occupational health issues in Nicaragua. PROSSTRAB (Prómocion de Salud y Seguridad de Trabajadores, Promotion of Workers' Health and Safety) was created in 2003, and is a unique partnership between a leading labor union confederation and a top Nicaraguan medical school, who work in close partnership with a US-based non-governmental organization. PROSSTRAB works to improve occupational health and safety education and training for workers, health care providers, and the public; improve worker access to healthcare; and advocate for policy change. PROSSTRAB has trained over 70 workers to be Safety and Health Promoters, and has provided training in occupational medicine for over 100 practicing health care workers and over 400 medical students. In the PROSSTRAB-supported Worker's Clinic, providers and medical students provide specialty care. Over 1000 patient visits have been recorded since the clinic opened in August 2004. PROSSTRAB works closely with unions and employer groups, and involves students, professionals, community members and employers in workplace health research. PROSTRABB represents a unique multi-sectoral collaboration to tackle occupational health and safety issues in a low-resource setting.