‘Come see Nicaragua’s reality for yourself’

Morning Star, 26 November, 2024. Click here for original article

Challenging critics of the Sandinista government, young trade union leader Flavia Ocampo speaks to Roger McKenzie about the nation’s progressive health system and how trade unions have been at the centre of social progress.

Flavia Ocampo has an infectious revolutionary spirit.

I interviewed the young trade union leader while she was in Birmingham as a guest of Unison West Midlands International Forum.

As I spoke with Ocampo, I was reminded of the words of legendary Cuban revolutionary Che Guevara when he said: “If you tremble with every injustice then you are a comrade of mine.”

During my talk with the officer for young members, culture and sport for the Federation of Health workers (Fetsalud), I put it to her that there were some – even some identifying with the left – that believed the 1979 Sandinista revolution had been betrayed by President Daniel Ortega.

This was when Ocampo’s voice broke and trembled with unmistakable passion.

“I have heard this before, “she said.”This mainly comes from people who have never been to Nicaragua.

“My advice to these people is to come to Nicaragua and see for yourselves.”

Ocampo explained: “We live it and see the reality of our country.

There’s lots of misinformation being circulated about the Nicaraguan revolution that is aimed at manipulating people, and much of it is through from the US where people receive money to spread lies about us.”

She added: “Anyone who had any doubts about the Nicaragua revolution should come and see for themselves and not just accept these lies.”

Ocampo told me how the propaganda was ramped up before and during the US sponsored coup attempt in 2018, where the opposition flooded social media with fake news and particularly targetted young people and students.

“But the people stayed strong and defended the revolution – defeating the attempt to remove all that we have won.”

Ocampo, a trained pharmacist, is clearly one of the bright lights of the trade union movement in Nicaragua.

Her union, Fetsalud, celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, is firmly committed to supporting the Sandinista Front and safeguarding the revolution.

During that time, Fetsalud faced persecution from the former US-backed dictatorship of the Somoza family that ruled Nicaragua from 1936 until the revolution in 1979.

The union worked to defend the jobs, terms and conditions of its members during cholera and leptospirosis epidemics without protective measures.

After the Sandinista revolution, there was massive investment in health and other essential services. There was also a growth in the country’s trade union movement.

When the far-right Violeta Chamorro defeated the Sandinistas in 1990 presidential election – marred by continued US interference – Nicaragua became the cheerleader across Central America for US-backed neoliberal austerity, which saw the privatisation of health and other essential services such as education, energy and telecommunications.

Chamorro slashed the health budget established by the revolution in half – leaving many families across the country to fend for themselves in a health system they could no longer afford or access.

Trade union rights were also stripped away, collective bargaining agreements junked, and, as trade union strength waned, living standards plummeted.

By the time Ortega led the Sandinistas back to power in 2007, the country was on its knees as the second poorest country in the Americas after Haiti.

Unlike in Britain, where trade union rights are, at best regarded as an irritant but, at worst, the embarrassing relative that needs to be disowned, unions were central to the rebuilding of the country.

“My family are Sandinistas, so I have always been well aware of the sacrifices made by the heroes and martyrs to rescue the country and to try to build a revolution,” Ocampo told me.

She said that this was part of the motivation that drove her to become active in the trade union movement.

“I find it exciting to be active in the union. We carry out a dual role of working to win improved terms and conditions for our members, but we are also active in wide political issues.

Ocampo was clear that since the end of the neoliberal years, “we now have a government interested in improving conditions for workers and delivering better health care for the people.”

She explained that in Nicaragua, they have a “community health care model based on three principles: promotion, prevention, and participation. It is a system that is completely free of charge.

“It is a system that is very much linked to the community. We have mobile clinics so that we can reach out into the rural areas and build strong links with communities.

“Our health system aims to bring services closer to communities – a model that really helped during the Covid-19 pandemic.”

Ocampo explained that during the pandemic we did millions of house-to-house visits and carried out a huge vaccination programme.”

“This all fits with the government strategy of care and solidarity for everyone.”

I asked Ocampo whether she felt the re-election of Donald Trump to the US presidency would make any difference to Nicaragua.

She said, “same old, same old! The policies of the US will remain the same.

“Whoever the US leader is will continue the same fascist policy of intervention to rob us of our natural resources.

“This is our country with our traditions and we intend to remain that way.

“We will continue to resist and will remain strong. We will fight to maintain our independence and sovereignty. “

What was the main message Ocampo was trying to pass on to trade unionists in Britain during her visit?

“Play an active part in your trade union and do so with passion, conviction and responsibility.”

Ocampo’s closing remarks are clearly important lessons for British trade unionists and activists anywhere in the world, but they also triggered another thought in my head.

Far too often, international trade union visitors are expected to recount what is happening in their nations and ask for the usual solidarity. Sometimes – if we are lucky – we might feel inspired by what they say and maybe pass a resolution of solidarity, send some money, or sometimes make a reciprocal visit.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with any of that. But here we have Ocampo passing a clear message of the importance of more activity in the British trade union movement – a movement that has seen activity and numbers sink drastically over the last decades.

She asks this not in an arrogant way that suggests Nicaragua has all the answers – she never claims that. But in a way that I believe recognises the importance of building a strong, member-led international trade union movement that is clear about need for linking the fights for workplace and political rights.

Ocampo clearly “trembles with indignation” against the exploitation of the working class. This makes her a comrade of mine and, I hope, of all who read this.

Solidarity opportunities to visit Nicaragua in 2025 organised by the Casa Ben Linder

20 February – 1 March 2025: The Bird Brigade: Birding in Solentiname Arquipelago

6-16 March 2025: Power & Protagonism: Women in Nicaragua

May 2025: Co-ops and Communities: Cooperative Movement in Nicaragua

June 2025: Global Health: Family and Community Health in Nicaragua

July 2025: Solidarity in Action: Nicaragua’s Popular Revolution

November 2025: Salud & Solidaridad: Hands-On Healthcare in Nicaragua 

Further information