Further support in Nicaragua: new aid mission for “Amigos de Salud” in 2024
The aid program initiated by the Fara Foundation (a non-profit organization based in Texas) is dedicated to providing free treatment for people with vascular diseases in Matagalpa, Nicaragua. medi for help is providing on-site support with supplies and volunteer helpers – the next time in July 2024. medi for help representative Christopher Miles (medi USA) was there and reports.
The people working on this project are passionate about their profession. During the week-long medical mission, they once again put all their energy into the “Amigos De Salud” aid program. In 2024, for the second year in a row, volunteers traveled to Nicaragua to provide on-site support and treat a total of 453 patients. On some days, the 21 volunteers worked for more than 12 hours at the Fara Clinic. Time flies when you are doing good.
Since the endovascular treatment of the lower extremities is only offered at the clinic once a year, and registrations already begin a year in advance, this week in July was something very special. For the participants, some of whom were helping for the second time, it was a great pleasure and an adventure to be able to support the clinic in Matagalpa. Without the Fara Clinic, many medical services for the needy population in the region could not be provided.
Precious moments and assistance that helps
While it is a great effort for the volunteers to travel to Nicaragua and give their time and energy to this good cause, it is even more difficult for those who want to be treated there. People come to the clinic from all over the country, sometimes traveling extremely long distances by bus, motorcycle, or on foot, sometimes for up to two days. One patient told us that she had a very long bus journey and a three-hour ride on horseback ahead of her to get home after her treatment. Despite this long journey, she had no hesitation in visiting the clinic. She gave the medical volunteers a warm hug at the end as a thank you. It’s moments like these that make this work so fulfilling, worthwhile and successful, and that medi for help is privileged to be a part of!
Our conclusion
Sustainable partnerships are crucial when selecting and implementing medi for help projects, and the Fara Clinic and “Amigos de Salud” are ideal partners for this. The end result of the 2024 visit to Nicaragua: more than 450 patients left the clinic with the necessary compression garments after their vascular surgery. Further therapeutic aids will be given to the patients over the course of the year. We will continue to maintain this close partnership and trusting cooperation in order to effectively support the local people with supplies.
Further impressions:
