Nursing Case

210 miles south of Belize City, lies the southernmost village of Belize called Punta Gorda. With a population of close to 6000, comprised of a mixture of: Chinese, Lebanese, East Indian, Creoles, Mayans, Garifunas, Mopans and Kekchi's, the small village of Punta Gorda, also the capital of the Toledo District, is located along the green lush banks of the Caribbean Sea. The village consists of 5 main streets that run parallel to the sea and main road, one hospital, a police station, a civic center, a gas station, a post office, a number of churches, schools, banks; and various bars, hotels, restaurants, grocery stores. Various fruit trees, especially mango, line the streets; most small homes are made of wood and are on stilts.

Some villagers live in very run down places that have been under construction for years, while some villagers live in quite nice houses that are very well kept. Out houses are common sites throughout the village. Traffic is minimal in this small town because most people travel on foot within the village. The cool sea breezes and friendly people make Punta Gorda a pleasant and interesting place. The pace of life is slow and easy going; people hang out on street corners chatting, while kids play in the school yards. The town comes to life on holidays and market days, Wednesday and Saturday mornings, when the villagers and Guatemalans from across the border come together around the clock tower to buy and sell produce, hand crafted products, and simple household goods.

Punta Gorda relies heavily upon agriculture, mainly: rice, beans, corn and cacao. The Mayan Indians are predominantly farmers and use more labor-intensive methods as opposed to large-scale farming. This is a much slower process but it yields a better crop. Crops grown in the southern area, like Punta Gorda, are generally used for domestic consumption as opposed to export. The government uses the Big Falls Rice Mill to buy up all of the local farmers' rice and resells it to Belizeans as polished rice. Cacao, the raw form of chocolate, has long been a valuable cash crop for this area.

The education in Punta Gorda consists of multiple elementary and intermediate schools, one high school, two trade schools and the University of Belize Medical School. All of the children are required to wear uniforms to school and the primary language spoken is English.

The Toledo district is connected to the rest of the country via bus lines and airlines. Guatemala is easily accessible through boat service from Puerto Barrios to Punta Gorda. Tour outfitters as well as local private tour guides help visitors discover this jewel in the south of Belize. Numerous hotels and lodges in and around Punta Gorda as well as restaurants are available for the visitors and locals.

Punta Gorda has a social security office, customs department, defense department, local police station and district court. Some residents of the village have vehicles, but primarily use them for traveling outside the village. Buses travel to and from the surrounding area to the villages. The main method of transportation besides walking is biking. Planes land in the village four times a day while school buses transport children to and from the village and school.

Health and social services consist