A Note to Our Friends and Donors — August 2026

Dear Friends,

Since 2004, The Roberto Clemente Health Clinic has stood beside families along Nicaragua’s Tola coast, offering emergency care, primary care, health education, and nutrition support around the clock.

Our team of 25 professionals — doctors, nurses, pharmacists, ambulance drivers, a volunteer program director, and staff running our child sponsorship, diabetes care, and clean water and filter distribution programs — shows up every day for families who often have no work and no way to travel to a clinic.

We remain 100% donor-supported, and your generosity is the reason this team can keep working around the clock. Thank you.

Caring for Children with Disabilities and Developmental Challenges

One part of our work that rarely gets attention is our support for the poorer children in the region, children with disabilities, and children with mental health challenges.

Last month, Medical Director Dr. Hazel Ruiz arranged dermatological evaluations in Rivas for three children in our Padrino (Sponsor a Child) Program. One girl, previously evaluated by our pediatrician Dr. Acevedo, was referred for dermatological follow-up and diagnosed with facial vitiligo. She has begun an eight-week course of topical treatment, with a check-up to follow.

A second child, also referred by our pediatrician, was diagnosed with chronic lichen simplex and acanthosis nigricans. Because her symptoms suggest insulin resistance, additional tests have been ordered, and Dr. Ruiz is coordinating follow-up care with our pediatrician.

A third patient, already under the care of Dr. Baltodano for alopecia areata, is showing real progress: hair is regrowing and the affected areas are shrinking. The process is slow, but the results so far are excellent, and we’ll complete her treatment over the coming month.

Dr. Ruiz also noted that psychological care has been arranged for each of these children — as well as for other sponsored children and rehabilitation patients — with coordinated assessments and ongoing follow-up.

A fourth child, already seen by our pediatrician, was referred to a pediatric neurologist and a speech therapist for a language delay. Dr. Ruiz is coordinating with a local non-profit to arrange speech therapy, and will schedule the neurology evaluation next month. The specialists in the closest city of Rivas are only available once every one to two months, so our Clinic team helps with coordination and transport.

How You Can Help

Expert attention and follow-up for the children in this region is made possible only by donors like you. Every gift helps our team keep showing up — for emergencies, for chronic conditions, and for the quiet work of tracking a patient’s care through to the end. Thank you for standing with the families of Tola.

To your health,

Julia C. Guth
Chair of the Board, Roberto Clemente Health Clinic
[email protected]