Volunteers Take Action

International volunteers have continued to offer their cherished time and services to the Clinic. In May, our visitors included Dr. Milan, a podiatrist, and Darcie, a registered nurse, who came with her husband and a friend, both electricians.

Diabetes and associated health issues are a very serious problem in Nicaragua due to insufficient education and the lack of adequate treatment in rural areas. Darcie and Dr. Milan both worked in our Diabetics Club and four nearby health centers. It is the first time that the area has had access to a podiatrist. In addition to treating patients, Dr. Milan offered talks on foot care to diabetics and staff members.

Dr. Milan provided this wonderful testimonial, which we are proud to share with you:

Volunteering at The Roberto Clemente Health Clinic has been one of my greatest experiences to date! The Clinic provides an incredible service in a large area where many patients are poverty-stricken and resources are scarce.

Specialist projects, such as the Diabetics Club, provide patient education alongside treatment, which is imperative for successful management of a condition that causes so much morbidity and mortality. Other projects include water sanitation, nutrition distribution, and the Padrino Program, which provides vital medication/vaccinations and school supplies for children.

One of the greatest assets of the Clinic is the staff themselves. They work tirelessly, showing genuine compassion to each and every patient. U.S. volunteers are guaranteed to receive care and affection from a team that would go over and beyond to support you. This Clinic truly is a remarkable establishment, and l am so blessed to have been a part of it. l highly recommend volunteering here if you wish to experience humanity at its finest! This is not a goodbye from me but an “hasta pronto”!!!

Enmanuel, our Volunteer Coordinator, prepares the volunteers’ agendas before they arrive. Depending on their area of expertise, volunteers can help our doctors and nurses at the Clinic, or support and participate in activities that benefit other programs, such as our Healthy Eating Initiative, Diabetics Club or Clean Water Initiative. They can also assist local public schools and nearby health centers with their ongoing community efforts.

Our focus is always on the community and its most urgent needs. Small steps forward in the community can mean big positive changes in the area.

From time to time, families visit to lend a hand. In April, Oxford Club employee Shawn Oyler, his wife, Colleen, and their children took a tour of the Clinic and learned about our different programs.

They were particularly fascinated by our organic garden and Beekeeping Program – so much so that the next day, Shawn and his children were working in the garden among the beehives with our agronomist, Eliezer Holman.

Another family also visited us in April to assist with an event the Clinic had planned for the children of the Padrino Program. They generously provided the food for the event, as well as gifts of caps and soccer balls for the children. They even threw together an impromptu soccer match.

We love that people are so interested in learning about our programs and services, and the commitment we have to our community.

We invite anyone with an interest in international volunteering to come and visit us. We have a variety of opportunities for everyone – healthcare workers, business and administrative professionals, teachers, social workers, dieticians, high school and college students, retirees, etc. We are always grateful for the time our volunteers give… It is priceless.

The Roberto Clemente Health Clinic is supported by individual donations. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit registered in Maryland, so all donations are tax-deductible. We accept funds through PayPal, where you can also donate with your credit card. You can also mail a check. We accept stock donations as well. To donate, click here.

Sincerely,

Julia C. Guth
Chair of the Board
The Roberto Clemente Health Clinic
www.nicaclinic.org