THE MOBILE CLINIC PROGRAM, Nicaragua

Name: MOBILE CLINIC, Nicaragua
Location: Americas-Central / Nicaragua / Leon / Subtiava

   

Project Area Background:

High rates of unemployment and annual income have ranked Nicaragua as one of the poorest countries in Latin America. In rural areas, large percentages of the population live in acute poverty with nearly 50% of the population living on less than $1.00 a day. These impoverished families are forced to make their children work to keep up with their basic living expenses. In remote villages, the most common health problems are: acute respiratory diseases, malnutrition and diarrhea caused primarily by crowded living conditions, poor sanitation and a lack of clean water. These easily preventable illnesses are one of the leading causes of childhood deaths in the region. Access to a proper education is difficult. Attendance rates are low because local children suffer chronic illnesses and/or malnutrition. Additionally, most families are too poor to pay for tuition and fees. Finally, school in the area lack of qualified teachers, teaching materials, desks and chairs for the classrooms, sanitary latrines and libraries.

Project Description:

The project’s mission is to provide the children of Leon with a primary education. In addition, it will provide the community with access to high quality health care administered through regular visits from a mobile clinic. The project aims to provide these remote areas with access to safe drinking and utility water and proper sanitary facilities.

Project Goals:

I. Health Program
• Operate a Mobile Clinic for the poor and disadvantaged inhabitants in 10 of Leon’s rural villages that provides daily visits for 30 patients in each village to provide adequate health care, medical equipment and supplies.
• Provide trained local community health outreach workers and three trained midwives from each community; volunteers working in partnership with the mobile clinic team.
• Provide health care education about proper hygiene, sexual practices, pre-natal & post-natal counseling, mental health, detection and prevention of common illnesses and health related activities including: breast-feeding promotion campaign.

II. Educational Program
• Increase accessibility and quality of early childhood and primary education programs by building four schools in four rural villages to provide a primary education for all the children in these 10 villages.
• Refurbish and equip these schools with innovative and culturally appropriate educational materials and school equipment.
• Train parents how to become more involved in their children’s education at school and at home.
• Organize committees formed by parents to voluntarily participate in the administration and maintenance of the schools.

III. Environmental Program
• Build latrines for 100 homes.
• Provide newer, safer water systems for each community.
• Work with these communities to access and manage local water sources for schools, clinics and community-use.

Project Beneficiaries:

• 6,800 adults and children under the age of 15 total

One-time Expenses:

• $71,310 - Cost to buy ambulance, construct school and latrine

Ongoing Expenses:

• $70,390 - Annual costs, including medical, transportation cost and staff salaries

Project NGO Partners:

• MAGNA Children at Risk

Project Partners:

• Altschuler Foundation
• Overture Financial