Operation Nicaragua – Hospital Escuela Oscar Danilo Rosales Arguello

For the final installment in our three-part Operation Nicaragua series, we’re going to take a look at the Hospital Escuela Oscar Danilo Rosales Arguello Teaching Hospital (HEODRA) in Leon, Nicaragua. As part of our recent trip to the community of El Limonal, RLCF had a chance to tour the nearby hospital to see how we could help out.

HEODRA is a 400-bed teaching hospital where over 70% of Nicaragua’s doctors are trained. It is the only public hospital in Nicaragua that offers open-heart surgery, and the only governmental facility in the region offering advanced obstetric and pediatric care. Through our partnership with the Kamloops Fire Fighters Charitable Society (KFFCS), RLCF is one of the donors that has had the opportunity to fund a medical student at HEODRA over the past few years.

Luis Mayorga is in his third year of medical school, but his time at the hospital started long before then. Previously, Luis volunteered at the hospital, helping out with the children. He originally studied and became a nurse, but recently made the decision to become a doctor. RLCF and the KFFCS, along with one other Canadian donor, are funding his education, room and board and will continue to do so until he is finished school.

Luis led our tour of HEODRA, and showed us where the hospital still needs the most help. The pediatric burn unit is only a small room with broken beds, as the equipment is not often maintained or fixed. The rest of the hospital is in need of basic supplies, such as beds, chairs, and linens. Luckily, the KFFCS already has much of the equipment needed, and they are already preparing a container to ship in February 2015.

How can you make a difference?

While this shipment will go a long ways to improve conditions in the hospital, more help is still needed. If you would like to donate to Operation Nicaragua, the KFFCS is currently accepting donations on Monday nights at 800 Mission Flats Roads. You can also reach out through their Facebook page, Kamloops Fire Fighters Charitable Society.

Read the other posts in our Operation Nicaragua series:

A Deeper Look into the “Garbage Dump Community” of El Limonal

RLCF joins Kamloops Fire Fighters in International Humanitarian Efforts

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