Prisoners of armed conflict: Nicaragua an ICRC survey.

This paper examinee the role of the medical delegate of the ICRC. Part I outlines the diseases and conditions found during a survey of three Nicaraguan rural prisoner of war camps. This information should enable medical delegates to formulate better plans for the treatment of prisoners in future. Part II suggests an alternative health care system which relies on the use of medical kits and manuals In the hands of medical auxiliaries. Dividing responsibility in this way would leave the medical delegate free to perform tasks which make more use of his more sophisticated skills.