By Leila Hawken | Fundraising Coordinator
We begin 2019, grateful for our loyal GlobalGiving donors who have continued their support at this critical period in the life and growth of our program at our Pediatric Heart Center of Nicaragua in Managua. News reports continue to detail tension within the relationship between government and certain arenas in the private sector.
In order to assess the situation first-hand and learn about specific needs, Surgeons of Hope founding board member Michel Longchampt visited our Heart Center in late November, and provided a detailed report to our governing board in December. One of his goals was to gain assurances that any visiting medical teams in 2019 would be able to visit the Heart Center in safety. His other goals were to visit with Health Ministry officials and hospital administration to learn how they are faring in the current political climate, and equally important, what their most pressing needs are that Surgeons of Hope might help to alleviate.
Michel reported that evidence of the unrest was subsiding, although certain aspects of the economy were slipping, particularly tourism. Bolstered by assurances from officials that our visiting medical teams would be safe, we are preparing to move ahead. There is a waiting list of 300 infants and children awaiting treatment at the Heart Center. Of those, 50 must be operated on within six months.
While the local surgical team is confident in the procedures necessary for straightforward cases, they are not yet proficient in the more difficult diagnoses. Therefore, they are eager to see us schedule upcoming missions.
They report that surgical supplies have run low, and that some equipment needs repair, causing them to double up on the use of the remaining equipment. Their need for syringe pumps and monitors continues. Before the unrest, they had become nearly self-sufficient in purchasing supplies, but now we suspect that the supplies need to be refreshed.
Based on Michel’s report, Surgeons of Hope is looking toward arranging a medical mission to Managua soon, perhaps as early as February, when a team from Colombia could be available.
Your GlobalGiving gift can help with these most urgent needs. A recurring gift helps us to plan ahead, but your one-time gift is equally welcome for the near term.
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