JUANTIA MENDOZA CONNOLLY CLINIC

History and Work of "Medicines for Nicaragua":

Medicines for Nicaragua, familiarly known as Mednica, is an all volunteer organization dedicated to helping the people of Nicaragua by supporting several medical and community health projects there. It was founded in 1990 by Dr. Gerard Cooney, a pharmacology professor at Temple University. He had heard about a nurse practitioner (NP) from the Philadelphia area who was working at a clinic in Managua, Nicaragua, and who was asking for donations of medications to be sent there. After a successful Lenten campaign, he decided to form a nonprofit organization to continue this support work year round. Initially all of the members were other doctors, nurses and employees of Temple Hospital and Universityin in Philadelphia, PA. The group grew and achieved 501C3 tax exempt status. When the NP, Sylvia Metzler, completed her two year volunteer work at the Clinica Morava in Managua, she returned to Philadelphia and joined MedNica. She and some other board members visit Nicaragua at least once a year to deliver medicines and to meet with the director, Jeannette Hodgson RN, and the staff to discuss current needs.

At the time of the founding of Mednica, Juanita Connolly Mendoza RN was the beloved Nicaraguan director of the clinic. She died suddenly and unexpectedly in February 2004, and the Clinica Morava was renamed in her memory and honor. Today the Juanita Connolly Mendoza Clinic sees about 1,500 patients a year and has recently opened a women's health specialty section. The clinic is allied with the Moravian Church in Nicaragua but accepts anyone who seeks medical attention. The small fee charged for a visit is waived if the person can not afford it and medications are free.

Mednica solicits monetary donations to pay for the salaries of the physicians and staff of the clinic and for medicines. MedNica also seeks donation of medicines and medical equipment and transports them to Managua for use in the clinic and other medical centers. Today the board consists of 15 U.S. and 4 Nicaraguan members. Rick Runquist and Sylvia Metzler serve as co-chairs, Jerry Goldstein as secretary and Dorota Szarlej as treasurer. The board meets approximately every other month in the homes of members with a pot luck dinner usually preceding the meeting. While some members have a medical back round, the only qualification for membership is a desire to help serve the medical needs of the people of Nicaragua.

In addition to the support of the Managua clinic, the board has several other projects at present. Early on we realized the importance of public health and prevention programs. We have worked with a Moravian organization (IDSIM) on the Atlantic Coast to provide potable water through safe wells and other water projects.

For many years, we have facilitated a month long rotation of fourth-year Temple University medical students in Managua and/or the Nicaraguan Atlantic Coast communities. Candidates need to have some Spanish language proficiency and the adaptability to work and learn in a poor country with few resources. We provide an orientation for the students and arrange for their working and living situations, but they are responsible for their own expenses.

We have also responded to emergency situations there such as providing financial and other support after Hurricanes Mitch and Felix. In response to a request for help for the children of parents who make a living scavenging in the trash dumps of Bluefields, we found a donor who helped purchase a home for children at risk there. The home is called Hogar Tabitha.

MedNica is a work in progress, an evolving organization that unites concerned people in Nicaragua and the United States to improve the health of many citizens of the beautiful and impoverished country of Nicaragua.

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Our Clients: