Celebrating the Sandinistas: Sources on their Achivements
Hello comrades. To celebrate the recent anniversary of the Sandinista revolution, let's go over some of their remarkable achievements.
Here's a study from the American Journal of Public Health discussing the major healthcare achievements of the Sandinistas during the revolution:
The findings of the study may be summed up with the following quote:
Before the Nicaraguan revolution of 1979, access to health services was largely limited to the affluent sectors of the urban population and the minority of workers with social security coverage. Repeated attempts at reform by organized medicine were ineffective. Since the revolution, a tremendous expansion in health services has occurred.
This study confirms enormous increases in Nicaraguan healthcare after the revolution:
Developments in health services, prevention activities, and education may be related to rapid improvements in the population's health status since 1979. It is estimated that, between 1978 and 1983, infant mortality decreased from 121 to 80.2 per 1,000 live births, life expectancy at birth rose from 52 to 59 years. The number of reported malaria cases has decreased by 50 per cent, polio cases have not been reported for two years, no measles cases were reported in the first half of 1984, and most other immunization preventable diseases are considerably reduced.
The social security system was also largely expanded:
The social security system is expanding rapidly. Since 1979, the percentage of the working population covered by social security has doubled, from 16 per cent to 32 per cent. Perhaps more importantly, most of the newly covered groups work in the formerly neglected agricultural sectors in outlying parts of the country. INSS coverage provides retirement insurance and workers' compensation among other non-medical benefits.
Here's a UNESCO report on the hugely successful literacy campaign:
The report found that the campaign had massively reduced illiteracy, stating:
The outcomes of the campaign were something to be proud of... Nicaragua made a substantial contribution to the world’s experience in finding solutions to eradicate illiteracy.
According to the UN, the Sandinistas' policies have cut malnutrition drastically in recent years:
The Sandinistas have greatly improved gender quality in Nicaragua, according to the World Economic Forum:
On top of that, data from the World Bank (noted communist front organization) shows that the Sandinistas have cut poverty in half in Nicaragua:
Here's an excellent study detailing the successful land reform programs in Nicaragua under the Sandinistas:
The study found:
The Nicaraguan agrarian reform accomplished more during its first year of operation than most agrarian reforms achieve over much longer periods... Rural workers were organized into a strong, national union, and began to receive better wages and to participate in government policy formulation and implementation. The necessary institutional framework for effective agricultural research, planning, and administration began to be developed. Finally, production levels by the end of 1980 were, with the exception of cotton, nearly those of pre-war levels for export crops, and at a par or higher for basic grains for the internal market. These accomplishments were all the more impressive given the widespread destruction and crop failures facing Nicaragua at the end of the war.
While the Sandinistas have undeniably committed major mistakes in recent years (such as their growing affinity for neoliberal policies, austerity, etc.), their achievements cannot be denied. This is especially true when we consider the terrible conditions they endured during the war; as the American Journal of Public Health said in their study of the Sandinistas:
Given the economic and military attacks on the health system, maintaining the formidable achievements of the last four years may be considered a success.
That's something we can all appreciate.
Posted Jul 20, 2019, 4:19 AM UTC · edited