Clinic Timeline
2021
- Improvement of quality of services:
- Strategic operational programming.
- Protocols update.
- Implementation of electronic registration medical records.
- Internal audit of medical cases.
- Internal medical education program.
- Medical equipment and financing programs.
- Focus on Primary Health Programs:
- General Medicine as the root of services.
- Health care and programs in response to the demand of the community.
- Provision of pharmacy services with generic and specialty pharmaceuticals.
- Implementation of new local regulations:
- Infrastructure expansion and healthy workspaces.
- Expansion of infrastructure, provision of healthy spaces.
- Adequate spaces to the standards required by MINSA.
- Attention to the community’s urgent needs with community outreach services:
- Disease prevention and education to the community.
- Support to the community health and wellness during COVID-19 pandemic.
- Health care campaigns on the community.
- Provision of food, medicines, hygiene supplies, and purified water.
- Family wellbeing support:
- Promotion of schooling and university studies.
- Safe drinking water and prevention of diseases.
- Food security for children and their families.
- Promotion of self-sustaining family gardening.
2020
- Community Outreach Program, benefiting more than 10,000 people in 20 communities.
- Provision of protective materials to staff and delivery of hygiene kits to the community.
- Implementation of a waiting area outside the Clinic, a hand-washing station and an isolation room for febrile patients.
- Coordination with MINSA for evacuation, diagnosis and treatment of patients with suspected COVID-19.
- Provision of purified water and medicines.
- During 2020, the Roberto Clemente Clinic served 13,028 people and provided 58,142 total benefits in the medical area, programs and projects.
- Infrastructure achievements:
- Septic tank replacement with support from LDS Charities.
- Construction of a multipurpose room and administrative office, with the support of ANF.
- Enabling area for laboratory and sterilization through the construction of a new kitchen area and implementation of a provisional isolation area for febrile patients or patients with suspected COVID-19 outside the regular area, with a donation from the Palko family.
- Opening of internal spaces and access to consulation areas.
- Implementation of additional doctor’s office (gynecology office).
- The Padrino Program helped 62 children to continue in the educational system from elementary school to university. In 2020, eleven students attended University and one already graduated.
- We started the distribution of water purifying packs to families.
- Due to ETA and IOTA hurricanes, a large number of gardens were destroyed by the effect of floods and storms. An evaluation was carried out and the recovery of all lost gardens is projected as a priority during 2021.
2019
- During 2019, the Roberto Clemente Clinic attended 25,967 people and provided 59,033 services in the medical area, programs, and projects.
- Our Diabetes Club helped 177 at 4 community health centers in the area. ANF continued to support this project by supplying blood glucose test, Hemoglobin A1c, and nutrition education.
- The Health Eating Initiative increased 96.5% during 2019, with the implementation of 50 new organic gardens. This increase was possible thanks to an agreement with a new strategic partner, Tierra de Hombres/European Union, as the principal sponsor of the program.
- Our Padrino Program provided support 62 children who were able to continue their education and obtain health care.
- Since July of 2019, we have received monthly donations of food from Mrs. Isabel Currey and her team. In November, the Clinic received support from a new sponsor, Father Fabretto Foundation with the provision of Mannapacks.
- We welcomed 9 international volunteers. We also continued promoting and encouraging locals to volunteer at the Clinic – we received 60 local volunteers.
- The non-governmental organizations that work in the area find the Clinic as an ideal strategic ally to work together and support the community.
- In 2019, we experienced two critical events with the clinic’s infrastructure – septic tank ruptured, and roof collapsed in the office area. These emergencies were solved thanks to an emerging donation from LDS Charities and funds from our U.S. office.
2018
- The socio-political and economic crisis in Nicaragua as of March 2018 had a categorical impact on the community in general and on our Clinic.
- During 2018, the Roberto Clemente Health Clinic treated 13,121 people with 33,599 services in the medical area, programs and projects.
- This year, the American Nicaraguan Foundation – ANF started supporting our Diabetes Club support management of a healthy diet.
- We received the participation of 106 volunteers in different specialities, 49 international volunteers and 57 local volunteers.
- Our Clean Water Initiative continued growing. Water was distributed to 3 schools (768 children benefited), 4 health centers (1,143 people benefited), and 53 families (212 people benefited).
2017
- Our entire team helped the community during Tropical Storm Nate delivering medicines, purified water, food, clothing and bed linens on a daily basis.
- In 2017, we continued to strengthen ties with the Diabetics Club. The Clinic hosted several activities to support the many people in our communities who suffer from this dreadful disease.
- We started looking for a North American Agricultural Partnership to help fund the expansion of our community gardens, apiary, training and staffing.
- We were able to acquire additional land for our Expansion Project thanks to a generous donation from a long-time Clinic supporter, Bill Bonner.
- We were able to assist 37,357 people with our medical services, programs and projects.
- The Clinic welcomed 69 international volunteers.
- The Padrino Program continued improving the lives of 67 children with healthcare and education.
- We created 32 additional organic gardens directly benefiting 26 families, 3 local NGOs, and 3 school and health posts.
- Our Nutrition Project helped 51 families, 122 children distributing food to families living in poverty.
- Our Clinic team distributed over 4,500 bottles of purified water to health centers, schools, families, and the community during Tropical Storm Nate.
- Our Diabetics Club helped 95 patients at four community health centers in the area.
2016
- 2016 Health Fair with record-breaking attendance from members of the community.
- Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation training at our Clinic and Guacalito.
- Community fairs were organized together with the Ministry of Health and fairs with the Diabetics Club.
- Anti-epidemic struggle against Zika, Dengue, and Chikungunya, among others.
- In 2016, 27,771 consultations were provided at the Clinic.
- The Padrino Program improved the lives of 67 children from different communities.
- The Clinic collaborated with ANF to start a Nutrition Program to fight malnutrition.
- Overall, 46 families and more than 220 people benefited from this great initiative.
- In 2016, we received 63 volunteers from the US, Canada, and Europe.
- The Clinic team and the volunteers helped the public school system in the area during a deworming and lice removal campaign. 192 children benefited from this activity.
- In 2016, we put our focus on structuring the Volunteers Program and creating a protocol for volunteering.
- We made major improvements to the process of washing, filing, and storing of our purified water. In additional we were able to make the necessary changes in structure and equipment to enhance the overall water treatment performance.
- The Healthy Eating Initiative continued to expand. One of our goals in 2016 was to teach members of the nearby communities how to grow their own foods using the bio-intensive system.
- We were able to start 12 community gardens, benefiting 804 people.
2015
- We were able to purchase a new ambulance with 24/7 service thanks to the donations received.
- Dr. Jose Mosquera, a highly experienced director of large-scale health initiatives around the world, joined the team as our new President and CEO!
- High collaboration from volunteers, students, as well as doctors and nurses, has helped achieve incredible growth in our international network of helpers.
- New medical resources were contracted.
- Our Annual Healthcare Fair took place in January, 2015 and it was a great success!
- Our pharmacy stock grew considerably thanks to the great relationships established between the Clinic and partners like ANF and Juan XXIII.
- Evening/night consultations increased by 27.88% compared to 2014.
- Ultrasounds were offered twice a month.
- We currently have 67 children sponsored by the Padrino Program.
- We expanded our Volunteers Program. Our new Coordinator, Ronnie Prado, joined our team and is working around the clock to assure that all our volunteers are busy with projects and activities in the Clinic and surrounding communities.
- Our water treatment plant currently distributes an average of 1,195 gallons of water per month. People from the community can refill their five-gallon bottles for 30 Nicaraguan cordobas (US$1.10).
- We now have a new, large vegetable garden planted behind the Clinic. We started the Healthy Eating Initiative to battle the local high incidence of diabetes, high blood pressure, tooth decay, weight gain and anemia.
- We provided classes in basic gardening, soil enhancement, nutrition and natural pest control.
- We also started a Beekeeping Program to improve the ecological balance of our organic garden.
2014
- We started a new database system to record information in a more efficient and organized way.
- A total of 4,236 laboratory exams were performed in 2014.
- We started new partnerships with other organizations, such as ANF (American Nicaraguan Foundation) and Hosana.
- We started accepting credit card payments from patients.
- The clinic’s roof was replaced after 10 years. The internal structure was improved and the exterior walls were freshly painted.
- Thanks to Eliezer’s expertise and the help from volunteers, the green areas of the Clinic were completely enriched.
- Spaces such as emergencies, odontology, and laboratory were also enhanced.
- We were able to share the free medications we usually receive with other health centers in the area, to include Salinas, Las Canas, Virgen Morena, and Cuascoto.
- Our Clinic van was repaired and painted.
- We were able to clean up the land and activate our Organic Garden which was a big dream our team had.
- Our Water Treatment Plant Project started at the end of the year. The initial cost of the plant was $14,000. Community leaders, local authorities, the Board of Directors, and other local organizations were invited to the inauguration.
- Our Padrino Program continues to grow. We now have 62 sponsored children in the program.
- In 2014, we received visits from 82 volunteers.
2013
- We enhanced our volunteer program to include many outreach educational initiatives.
- We hired 3 new doctors to cover our 24/7 services.
- Our volunteer coordinator managed double the amount of volunteers compared to 2012.
- We continued to assess the various systems that could potentially create a community clean-water treatment system.
- We started our own Continuous Education program. Our doctors learn together and share the experiences with patients or previous cases.
- We were able to expand our existing facilities to meet the needs of our now fully staffed clinic.
- We saw 10,208 patients.
- Our Padrino Program worked with 33 children in the Limon area. We handled our uniforms and school supplies at the beginning of the school year to each sponsored child.
- We worked on planning out a new Expansion Project to double our current space.
- We started developing a Water Treatment and Distribution Program to develop a reliable waster source, treat the water for known health concerns, and provide a distribution system for the clinic, the community and the local schools.
2012
- Our “Diabetes Club” (created by Dr. Flores) grew to include over 100 members.
- Jenia Hooper joined our Clinic team as the Director of Volunteer and Outreach Programs.
- Our Outreach Program brought 62 volunteers to provide preventative care to patrons of the Clinic. These volunteers were able to reach and assist approximately 3,150 members of the Limón community through deworming, hygiene and additional public health issue-focused classes.
- The Clinic saw approximately 12,000 total patients. This was a 13% increase from 2011.
- An estimated 1,200 people attended our Healthcare Fair, and all received free medical services including check-ups, medication and dental care from over 30 local healthcare practitioners.
- We sponsored a group of nurses and surgeons who performed 27 successful surgeries in four days at the Community Hospital in Rivas.
- We were able to find sponsors for nearly all of the children in our initial Padrino Program database.
- MedWish International recognized our Clinic as one the most organized with regard to control and disbursement of medication. Thanks to the recent acquisition of a top-of-the-line portable GE ultrasound machine, we were able to perform 199 ultrasounds. This important pre-natal service was previously only available at high cost in Managua, four hours from the Clinic.
- We experienced a non-stop flow of volunteers ranging from medical professionals to students from around the world.
2011
- Our volunteer program was an ongoing success. Aside from medical support, our volunteers helped to improve our communication with the community, organize our pharmacy, and coordinate our Padrino Program. They also served as primary contacts to observe and improve various public health issues.
- 9,636 patients received healthcare through our Clinic. Of the total cases, 30% were children and 1,837 were respiratory infections.
- We reached an additional 3,790 individuals through our Outreach Program.
- Many medical professionals donated their time and expertise in 2011, including pediatrician Lane Robson, who treated over 140 patients, pediatrician Sara Sobokta, who treated over 120 patients, and PA (OB/GYN) Barbara Jordan who treated over 140 patients. Barbara Jordan went on to form an integral part of our Advisory Board.
- We partnered with InnerChange and Compureach, led by Dave Sevick, to bring 80 Mac computers to the schools in Limón and Salinas.
- We also established a partnership with TOMS shoes to provide shoes to low-income children in our community. We broke their record for the fastest ever distribution of shoes!
- We celebrated our first annual Healthcare Fair with over 600 people in attendance and 236 recipients of medical services.
- We improved our facilities by renovating the ceiling of our waiting room, maintaining our battery room and equipment, painting new areas, moving the pharmacy to a larger space and increasing the amount of patient observation areas thanks to the donation of beds by Caritas de Nicaragua.
- We donated a total of USD $123,000 in medicine to our own patients and other healthcare providers.
- Since 2010 we doubled the size and stock of our pharmacy. Thanks to our large stock and our participation in subsidy programs, our prices remained an average of 20% below market value.
- We opened our FIRST MOBILE CLINIC in Guacalito (near Tola, Rivas), where we provided basic and preventative healthcare to the workers of this development.
- Dr. Flores created our first Diabetes Club to educate and provide follow-up care to 100 diabetic patients. Benedict del Buono organized and delivered diabetes talks to 320 community members.
- Rancho Santana, one of our dearest clients, continued to donate logistic and administrative support in-kind, for which we are very grateful.
2010
- A total of 11,979 patients received healthcare services through our Clinic including 2,165 patients from our outreach program and 576 from our dental brigade.
- Thanks to our donors we were finally able to purchase an ambulance! Since the purchase of the ambulance in June, 146 critical patients were transferred to the hospital in Rivas.
- We donated a total of USD $53,000 in medicine to other health centers or directly to members of the community.
- We increased the size and the stock of our pharmacy by 43%. In addition to serving the needs of our own patients, we also supply doctors in Rivas and other parts of the country.
- We partnered with the American Nicaraguan Foundation to provide the community with medication, medical equipment, clothing and more.
- 22 children were sponsored through our expanding Padrino Program.
- More than 300 houses where fumigated in Limón 1 through our outreach program.
- We increased our lab services. We performed a total of 2,461 tests in 2010.
- The Orioles Advocates donated several sets of baseball equipment for the kids in our community.
- Oliver Guadamuz joined our team as a nurse.
- We facilitated the visit of Dr. Chris Allamant, who gave free ophthalmological consultations to 49 individuals, performed 18 surgeries and provided prescription lenses to 182 individuals.
- We received a generous donation of portable dental equipment, as well as donations of medicine from Christian Aid Ministries and Fundación Osana.
2009
- Our pharmacy increased its stock by 320%.
- We developed the PROGRAMA PADRINO to provide children from impoverished families who suffer from chronic conditions with monthly medical care, nutrition assistance and school necessities like uniforms, books and notebooks.
- 8,183 patients visited the Clinic including 358 emergency cases and 21 internal surgeries for trauma cases.
- 121 critical patients were transferred to the Rivas hospital, making evident our need to purchase an ambulance.
- We received a total of $US 88,000 in medicines from Nicaraguan foundations, of which we donated $77,000 directly to the community.
- Our outreach programs reached approximately 5,900 individuals.
- We changed our schedule of services and increased our staff to make clinical services available 24 hours per day, 7 days a week.
- We coordinated with the Minister of Health in Nicaragua to run a fumigation campaign for approximately 2,500 people in the area. Rancho Santana collaborated in this effort. This program considerably reduced the number of malaria and dengue cases.
- Established a dental and preventative hygiene program for elementary and middle schools including distribution of toothpaste and toothbrushes. Due to the high demand for dental services we also contracted a dentist to provide weekly dental services for our patients.
2008
- We reached 8,300 patients and administered 638 vaccinations.
- We created additional space at the Clinic for dental care and administrative purposes.
- Gustavo Ibarra, licensed pharmacist, joined our pharmacy team.
- 812 children were treated for parasite infections at the schools in Limón 1, Sofía Sanarrucia, Enmanuel Mongalo and the Escuela Iguana.
- 351 homes were fumigated. These efforts were co-sponsored by MINSA and Rancho Santana.
- Coordinated with Rancho Santana and the Wheelchair Foundation to implement PROGRAMA SILLA DE RUEDAS, bringing 110 wheelchairs to the community, hospitals and other institutions.
2007
- Juan Muñoz joined our team as Executive Director.
- Julia Guth, former Project Manager and one of the Clinic’s original founders, became Chairwoman of our Board of Directors.
- We opened our own pharmacy that quickly became the most reliable in the area with the greatest selection of medications and supplies.
- We hired an administrator to create reports for the Board and manage the local registration and licensing for the Clinic.
- We contracted a local accounting services company to audit our books for 2005, as well as implemented accounting and auditing procedures to control disbursement and expenses.
- The Clinic served 8,223 patients in 2007.
- We obtained the appropriate licenses and permits with the Minister of Health and other organizations in Nicaragua to register as a tax-exempt organization.
- We hired laboratory technician Eduardo Ramón Bello Victor as an independent contractor to provide laboratory services locally so that our patients would not have to travel to Rivas for lab work.
- We built and installed a backup energy system for the Clinic to provide 48 hours of energy in an emergency situation.
2006
- The Clinic served approximately 8,000 patients in 2006.
- We offered several programs for young children to meet regularly with Nurse Miranda to learn good health practices.
- We worked with young mothers in the community to target the issues of infant and child mortality.
- Our small medical team conducted health seminars at local schools and gave out donated supplies to the students like toothbrushes and clothes.
2005
- We modified our facilities to accommodate our growing patient volume.
- We saw 7,880 patients in 2005.
2004
- We opened our doors with one doctor, one nurse and one administrator:
- Martha Catalina Cerda Miranda became our first nurse, and has stayed with the Clinic since its foundation.Julio José Flores Rivas, our first doctor, became the Clinic’s Medical Director, a post which he still holds.
- Members of Rancho Santana and the Rotary Club of Pittsburgh as well as community members from the province of Tola attended a special opening ceremony in which the local Catholic Padre blessed the building as is traditional in the region.
- We served a total of 670 patients in our first year.
2003
- With the considerable amount of real estate development occurring in this impoverished region, developers felt it was necessary to “give back” to the local community. Representatives from Rancho Santana Bill Bonner, Antonio Granados and Julia Guth decided to create a non-profit clinic in the town of Limón 1, Nicaragua. Julia Guth became the Project Manager and sought the partnership of the Rotary Club of Pittsburgh, which had already successfully built one clinic in northern Nicaragua. Thus the idea for the Clinic was founded and our first fundraising efforts were initiated. We received generous donations of land from the Granados Family, money from the Rotary Club of Pittsburgh and other donors.