Health Care
What have we accomplished?
The CDCA first began working in Nicaragua in 1994, when neoliberal governments were in power in the country and there was little access to health care for the country’s poor majority. Even if patients managed to be seen by a doctor, they couldn’t afford to buy the medicines they were prescribed. In community evaluations, health care was consistently identified as the highest priority need for all the communities where we worked. The CDCA responded to this immense need by bringing down medical brigades to see patients; and, following Hurricane Mitch in 1998, set up a full-time health clinic in Nueva Vida.
Over the past 25 years, this clinic has provided primary care and medicines for Ciudad Sandino, and has provided increasingly specialized care as the community's needs and priorities have changed. Currently, the Nueva Vida Clinic provides services to around 17,500 patients annually, an average of 70 patients per day in the areas of
general medicine
dentistry
psychology
laboratory and
pharmacy services.
When the Sandinista government came back into office in 2007, health care was declared free again, and the government has continually bettered services for its population around the country. As these services have improved and expanded in Ciudad Sandino, the CDCA has focused its health work in areas not currently being covered by the Ministry of Health (MINSA). To that end, we coordinate strategies, projects and activities with MINSA at a local and national level.
Impact Goals: Health
To improve long term health outcomes for Nicaraguans, in particular the people of Ciudad Sandino, with a focus on the barrio of Nueva Vida and the rural comarcas of the municipality.
To ensure access to quality and integral health care services for families in these communities.
To improve understanding of health issues with a focus on educating younger patients in order to prevent disease and illness.
To provide opportunities for education, internships, exchanges and hands-on experience for Nicaraguan and foreign students and health professionals.
To remain flexible and capable of adapting programs to the changing needs of the communities.
Programs in Health
Health promotion: we organize, train and maintain a strong network of 31 community promoters in Nueva Vida and the rural comarcas.
Integral care: not only do we see patients in the clinic, but we also carry out home visits in Nueva Vida as a key factor in ensuring integral care of patients.
Coordinated care: We work in concert with the public health care system to ensure integral care for patients in Nueva Vida with chronic illnesses, acute emergencies, and follow-up care
Dental care: We improve oral hygiene by instilling good habits in children through education and ensuring access to preventative and restorative dental care on a regular basis.
Accompaniment & advocacy: We provide emotional and practical support to vulnerable patients.
Programs in Health Cont’d
Education: We educate patients and community members about chronic illness, STIs, family planning, women’s health, pregnancy, breastfeeding, early childhood development, and nutrition.
At-risk youth: Programs for 80 adolescents with a focus on postponing parenthood, finishing high school and receiving technical training or going to college.
Sustainability: Our goal is to increase clinic sustainability by rehabilitating green pharmacy garden and training health promoters and patients in natural medicine.
Volunteers: We connect foreign medical professionals to the Nicaraguan public health care system to learn from Nicaragua’s health care model, to exchange experiences, learn from Nicaraguan medical professionals and contribute skills including in health fairs, surgery and other specialized care.