Costa Rica

The Bri-Bri tribe has lived for many centuries in the Talamanca Cordillera (the country’s highest) and has managed to preserve its vernacular language, customs and traditions. The tribe is practically the only native one remaining which still maintains its own identity in Costa Rica (however, it is fully integrated into national life in all its aspects) and as such has been given special attention by the State, particularly as regards health and education and the protection of its native values. Indeed in that part of the country there is a cultural radio station which broadcasts programs in the Bri-Bri language. There is also a newspaper written exclusively in Bri-Bri- It is interesting to observe the traditional folk ceremonies of the Bri-Bri tribe, especially those performed within their religious and cultural context and which have been preserved by them for many hundreds of years. Through  its cultural and linguistic bodies the University of Costa Rica has prepared a grammar book and a spelling book of the Bri-Bri language which have been invaluable tools in the training of people to collaborate with the Bri-Bri tribe.

Throughout its history, Costa Rica had devoted the lion’s share of its resources to two specific areas: education and health. For this reason it has an extensive infrastructure given entirely over to preventive and curative medicine. Both private and state efforts converge on this matter and the responsibility for health care falls for the most part on the Costa Rica social security and welfare system, an autonomous state institution which, together with the Ministry of Health, looks after all inhabitants of the republic. The country has modern bio-medical equipment as well as professional medical and paramedical technicians of the highest standing and with great experience, all of which provides Costa Rica with an enviable position in health matters. The country has its own medical schools which are internationally recognized for their quality – a guarantee for the training and availability of proper human resources for the growing needs of the nation.