Healthcare The healthcare team works successfully to accomplish three principal objectives:

To foster sustainable local healthcare and health education programs
Through grants and generous donors, our local family doctor conducts daily clinics in two locations serving a community of 20,000 people, spreading hope through providing visits for a nominal fee and giving out our donated medicines. We also have trained a growing group of first responders, spread out over the community and who in turn give us statistics on the most common illnesses and also refer to our clinics. Additionally, when we are in Nicaragua on mission we conduct popular health fairs.

To serve as a pipeline for donated medicines through our varied partnerships
Whether it be international aid groups such as the Catholic Medical Mission Board (see below), Kingsway Charities, or your local pharmacies and individuals, we channel these donations to local Nicaraguan hospitals, clinics and organizations with which we have a close working relationship. These include Children’s and Women’s hospitals, a poor mountain town hospital, a disability center, an inner city free clinic, a leprosy center, two orphanages, and our two rural community clinics.

To ascertain the needs of our Nicaraguan healthcare organizations by making first-hand assessments and gathering information
We regularly measure growth parameters and blood hemoglobin levels in the children who benefit from our two school lunch programs. Other activities include conducting water analysis, parasite screening, and women’s health/ PAP screening clinics. We continually re-evaluate our efforts to address public health needs while also maintaining our focus on touching lives - one at a time. To make a donation to help the Healthcare project, visit our Donations page.
CMMB Delivers Quality Healthcare to NicaraguaThe following section is a press release from the Catholic Medical Mission Board (CMMB), a partner who has donated over $15 million in supplies to us.

“Working Together To Improve Lives” is the vision of North Country Mission of Hope^SM, a valued CMMB partner that has worked in Nicaragua since 1999. First, responding to the effects of Hurricane Mitch on the villages of Chiquilistagua and Monte Verde and now, working to empower community members through educational, healthcare, nutrition, water and community development projects.

Through our partnership efforts with North Country Mission of Hope^SM and your medicine and medical supply donations, we have been able to help families in Chiquilistagua live healthier lives.

The primary North Country Mission of Hope^SM project CMMB supports, takes place at the clinic at Colegio Nino Jesus de Praga in Chiquilistagua. Each year, the clinic serves a community of over 20,000 people. The most prevalent problems diagnosed are digestive and respiratory illnesses, caused by water-borne diseases and the constant burning of trash and yard waste. Primary healthcare medicines and supplies are scarce and very needed in the community.

CMMB’s Healing Help pharmaceutical donations program responds to the dire shortage of quality medicines and primary healthcare in resource-poor countries. In FY2007, CMMB made 535 shipments of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies valued at US$187 million to recipients in 100 countries. We provide donations to medical mission teams, in-country healthcare facilities, and international charity partners.

CMMB's Healing Help Newsletter, is a quarterly email that aims to keep our generous donors informed about the impact of their efforts on the healthcare needs of the poor. To learn more about Healing Help or to donate product, please contact Kathryn Rouillard, Pharmaceutical Unit Coordinator, krouillard@cmmb.org.

Founded in 1928, CMMB works collaboratively to provide quality healthcare programs and services, without discrimination, to people in need around the world. How to get InvolvedIf you would like to help us with this critical work, there are a number of ways you can get involved. If you are a medical professional, we urge you to consider a mission trip. We need a team of doctors, nurses, and other professionals every trip. If you would like to donate medical equipment or supplies, please contact us directly; we accept all current over-the-counter and prescription medicines with the expiration date a minimum of six months prior to entry into Nicaragua (February and July). Money is always needed to help pay for services and medications in Nicaragua. And, finally, the donation of yourself and time is always welcomed. Even if you're not a medical professional or interested in going on a mission, we need lots and lots of help. If you're interested in volunteering please see the Get Involved section of our site.

Needed Medical Donations Donations of health care and medical items are always needed. We believe that one of the best ways to establish a preventive healthcare program in a region of the world without one is to assist in providing some very basic items which, in turn, will assist in stopping the spread of disease and illness.

We ask that you bring any donations to our warehouse at 125 Sharron Avenue, Plattsburgh NY 12901 on Wednesdays between 10am and Noon.  Or, you can mail/ship them to us at: North Country Mission of Hope, 206 New York Road, Plattsburgh, NY 12901.

Vitamins - Adult and Children's

Toothpaste & toothbrush

Antibiotic ointments or creams

Acetominophen

Cough Syrup

Antacids

Gauze

Tape

Ace bandages

Any prescription medicine: Expiration dates must be at least 12 months after our next arrival in Nicaragua. Please contact usfor further information on our next mission date.

Durable Medical Equipment (DME): wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, commodes, bath/shower seats must be clean and in good condition

Medical Equipment: EKG (8-12 leads), Microscopes, Lab Equipment, Autoclave

Health & Hygiene Bags Project One of our Mission of Hope projects is preparing and distributing hygiene/healthcare products to the families in Nicaragua at our Health Fairs and when teams go on Medical Outreach. We believe that one of the best ways to establish a preventive healthcare program is to assist in providing the very basic hygiene items. To learn how you can help, visit Health & Hygiene Bags Project.