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Amigos for Christ Health & Medical Projects
Medical Directors: Richard
Nutt, M.D. Clarkesville, Ga. Our Mission is to bring quality medical care to the poor of Chinandega, Nicaragua and to promote healthy living habits by teaching people to help themselves. Ninety percent of Nicaraguans lack basic medical care. Many people, especially children, suffer needlessly with easily preventable diseases and conditions that are correctable with surgery. We want to touch as many of these people as possible and improve their quality of life. How is the
medical mission carried out? St. Martin de Porres Surgical Hospital is part of Betania, the multi-functional charitable complex operated by Father Marco Dessy and his Fundacion 2001. The hospital opened in August 2002, through the generosity of a single donor. Amigos for Christ has equipped it, using donations from such organizations as Catholic Medical Mission Board, Med Share International, Door County Memorial Hospital of Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, Douglasville Medical Center of Douglasville, Georgia and a host of other groups and individuals. The 20 bed hospital has 2 well-lit operating rooms, air conditioning, steam and gas sterilizers, a portable X- ray machine, anesthesia machines and an extensive variety of surgical instruments. A small stock of medications and anesthetic agents is periodically replenished by visiting surgical teams and regular donations. Over a dozen surgical teams have performed general surgery, plastic surgery, ophthalmology, EENTand orthopedic surgery at St.Martin de Porres and brigades are now being formed for the upcoming year. The Amigos for Christ Mobile Clinic regularly visits 12 rural villages in the Chinandega province. Using a Toyota Land cruiser, a Nicaraguan family practitioner and pharmacy assistant provide the primary source of medical care for these settlements, which have between 50 to 300 families each. Visiting nurses are teaching community “brigadistas” basic first aid at some villages, so they can maintain a small health clinic on site and help their neighbors in the absence of a doctor. The doctor, pharmacist, medical van and village health centers are all supported by Amigos for Christ, with the help of funds, medicines and supplies from around the United States. Fe y Alegria (Faith and Joy) and Amigos para Cristo (Amigos for Christ) Health Clinics in the City of Chinandega serve over 150,000 people. Our facilities host a Nicaraguan family doctor, nurses, pharmacy assistants, and part time family practitioners, obstetricians and pediatricians. These professionals, as well as an administrator, are supported by your gifts to Amigos for Christ. How Can You Help? Become a monthly donor and designate your gifts toward our medical program. Call us at (770) 614-9250 or information. Serve on
a surgical team at St. Martin de Porres Surgical Hospital. The lead physician obtains and coordinates supplies, travel and special surgical equipment and instruments. We support an increasing number of teams, so we need all consumable supplies replenished by the visiting teams. Advance planning should result in donations of sterile drapes, scrubs, dressings, etc. that can be carried down by the group in duffel bags. First time leaders are encouraged to take a preliminary trip to Nicaragua to acquire and assess patients and get acclimated to the area. Individuals may be able to join existing teams if there are openings. Qualified Spanish translators are always needed. A surgical tour of duty usually lasts one week. Food, transportation, laundry and housing are provided at the hospital complex at Betania. To find out about our next surgical mission brigade, email us at: missiontrips@amigosforchrist.org Clinical Visits by bilingual nurses, pediatricians and internists at our free standing clinics and on our mobile medical van will greatly help our staff doctors attend to more patients. Dentists have been a valuable asset at the Fe y Alegria Clinic. Click to see a current list of medical needs.
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