A message from Clinic Director and Oxford Club Executive Director Julia Guth

Respiratory ailments are common in this part of Nicaragua... dust from unpaved roads and pesticides from crops contribute to chronic conditions that affect children and adults alike.

Imagine trudging through the mud while carrying your infant in one arm and holding the hand of your other child... not to mention wading through 18-inch deep "puddles" that stretch across the road, all to reach your local doctor to get your child his daily dose of oxygen.

The lights flicker... the power ceases... and your trip was for naught.

Or consider a recent construction accident, where a worker was injured when a block wall collapsed on top of him. His co-workers rushed him to the Clinic, where he received emergency surgery to close the wound in his skull.

What if the power had gone out then ?

It's always a real possibility, even more so with this year's extraordinary weather conditions....

I'll get right to the point. I'm writing you today to ask for your help once again.

We must address the issue of power outages that impact our sponsored Health Clinic's ability to function, and we must also provide a vehicle - an "ambulance," if you will - to transport patients to the Clinic for emergency care.

Child diagnosed with bronchitis .

I want to sincerely thank you for your interest and support of our clinic. I'm not exaggerating at all when I say you can make a difference in the lives of literally thousands of people, for generations to come.

We should all be quite proud of what's been accomplished with the donations in just the short time since the Clinic opened in 2004.

We knew when we started brainstorming the development of a non-profit clinic that this wasn't a "get it off the ground and then move on to something new" type of project.

We have an ongoing commitment to the Clinic and to the people it serves. Like a parent whose responsibility doesn't end because their child left for college, we follow the progress of the Clinic, and watch for ways we can help. Today it is becoming a model private clinic for all of Central America.

There's still work to be done...

Unpaved roads - frequently flooded from recent winter storms - have turned to sticky, thick mud. The exaggerated stories our folks used to tell us about walking to school uphill in the snow have nothing on what the Nicaraguan people deal with on a daily basis just to survive.

2-month old baby Mixey, back for her well-baby exam.

This is a region where families live packed into one-room homes with dirt floors. Those that are lucky have a roof of aluminum siding; those who aren't so fortunate have a roof of palm tree or banana tree fronds.

There's no sewer system... just an outhouse in the adjoining yard. No. Running water? No. In fact, the first time many of the region's children ever experienced a flushing toilet was when they came to the Clinic.

Your donation will help to provide an ever increasing array of services to the locals and visitors of the region:

• We are now open every day, with services available on a 24-hour/7-days-a-week basis (up from nine hours a day, 3-5 days/week last year).
  
• Just one year ago, the Clinic served the two local villages of Limón I and Limón II. Now, the people of 48 area villages up and down the Nicaragua's Pacific coast benefit from Clinic services, as well as tourists, employees and residents of nearby Rancho Santana and other developments.
  
• Despite the challenges of muddy, impassable roads, the Clinic record was set when 1,270 patients in just one month received care! (Handled by a dedicated but very small professional medical staff of 4). The Clinic is now seeing an average of 1,000 patients a month - we're at capacity.
  
  
• Educational programs have expanded to include the young people of the local communities. Boys and girls, aged 12-20, meet regularly with Clinic nurse Martha Cerda Miranda to promote well-being and good health practices... this in addition to programs already in place to educate women about breast exams. And our small medical team now conducts seminars at the local schools.

"Build It... They Will Come."

They walk through muddy, often flooded streets. They ride bicycles - sometimes two, three, even four passengers on one bike! It's not unusual to see patients arrive on the back of a very tired horse.

This 86 year-old man visits regularly for arthritis treatments.

But it's the bus that brings in the bulk of the Clinic's patients. It only comes twice a day... every morning when the bus arrives, a dozen or more villagers, carrying their little ones, helping the elderly and infirm... all come to receive care and hope from Clinic staff:

• A C-section patient travels ten miles a day for two weeks to receive antibiotics and get her dressing changed
• Mothers bring their children and infants for bronchitis treatments
• The elderly visit for arthritis treatment
• Another woman comes for elephantitis
  These are just some of the many who travel by bus each day seeking care at the Clinic.

But What About Those Who Can't Get to the Clinic?

Walking, riding: bike, car, horse, bus... hundreds come to the Clinic each week under their own power or with the assistance of family or friends.

But what of those who can't leave their homes? People with chronic or terminal illnesses, or in emergency situations?

Dr. Flores has asked for a vehicle - an ambulance - so he can visit those who can't make it to the Clinic on their own. It doesn't have to be an ambulance, per se, with sirens blaring and flashing lights.... Just big enough to transport someone back to the Clinic or to the nearest hospital 22 kilometers if necessary.... Dependable and able to make it through mud and flooded roads during the rainy season....

"The Plan"

Nicaragua has two seasons, rainy and dry. Right now, they're at the end of the rainy season.

From our point of view, this gives us the perfect opportunity to organize plans, equipment, and resources so we're ready to move forward with construction during that window of non-rainy yet not-yet-hot weather that occurs in the transition between seasons.

How You Can Help

As you know, the Clinic is sustained entirely through contributions from people like you, people who see value in helping others and impacting future generations. We do not have grants and would like in the future to find one.

There are four ways you can help:

DONATE ONLINE - Your donation provides critical funding for salaries of local doctors and nurses, medicines and equipments.

Please follow the DONATE button:

MONTHLY GIVING - Arrange to be part of the Clinic's ongoing support by setting up an automatic monthly donation billed conveniently to your credit card. We have selected a convinient $100 monthly donation form for you:

VOLUNTEER YOUR TIME -Volunteers are welcome at the Roberto Clemente - Rancho Santana Clinic. In exchange for working approximately five hours a day with Dr. Flores, volunteers will receive a 50% discount at Rancho Santana. The discount applies to lodging, meals, and amenities - and volunteers at the clinic are encouraged to take advantage of the same activities available to the other Rancho guests! Please refer to http://www.nicaclinic.org/volunteer.html for volunteer requirements and an application.

In Gratitude to Our Charter Donors

To demonstrate our appreciation for renewing your commitment to the Roberto Clemente - Santa Ana Clinic, we've arranged for some special recognition:

This is the view outside your room at the Rancho Santana clubhouse... the beach is less than 100 feet away.

Donors of $5,000 or more get 2 NIGHTS' STAY AT RANCHO SANTANA + Nicaclinic Surf Bracelet + San Juan de Oriente Pottery + Coffee Table Book, Coastal Living on the Nicaraguan Riviera: Rancho Santana & Los Perros + engraved nameplate. Enjoy 2 nights as our guest at the Rancho Santana Clubhouse, with access to all member amenities: enjoy walks on Dorada Beach, picnics on Playa Rosada, boogie-boarding on the Pacific waves, and hiking various trails. You can also surf, play tennis, fish, go horseback riding, go swimming, or just lay in the sun.

Donors of $1,000 - $4,999

Nicaclinic Surf Bracelet + San Juan de Oriente Pottery + Coffee Table Book, Coastal Living on the Nicaraguan Riviera: Rancho Santana & Los Perros + engraved nameplate, displayed in perpetuity at the Roberto Clemente - Rancho Santana Clinic in recognition of your generosity.

Donors of $500 - $999

Nicaclinic Surf Bracelet + Coffe Table Book, Coastal Living on the Nicaraguan Riviera: Rancho Santana & Los Perros. The stunning coffee table book is a 112 page pictorial of the beautiful landscape and culture that acts is a back drop to our clinic.

Donors of $250 - $499
Nicaclinic Lance Armstrong-style Bracelet.   

An oasis of caring amidst the countryside of Nicaragua .

Your commitment to continue as a Charter Donor will immediately impact the lives of residents and visitors of the Nicaraguan Pacific coast - far beyond what we originally hoped for back in 2004 when the Clinic first opened.

I look forward to hearing from you soon. I'll make sure your appreciation gifts are prepared and shipped promptly.

Very sincerely,

Director, Roberto Clemente Santa Ana Clinic

If you want to send your donation by mail please cut this part of the page

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Yes!  I want to join the team!
Please include me as a 2007 donor
for the Roberto Clemente - Rancho Santa Ana Health Clinic.

I am donating on or before December 31, 2007. Please notify Agora, Inc. to match my donation immediately, and send me my tax deduction receipt!

"Great news! Agora Inc's 100% matching funds deadline for donations has been extended another year."

Please accept my donation for: $5,000. USD $2,000. USD $1,000. USD
$250. USD $___________ (please specify amount)   

My check is enclosed. (Please make checks payable to:
The Roberto Clemente - Santa Ana Health Clinic

Please charge my credit card: VISA MasterCard AMEX Discover

Card Number: ____________________________

Expiration Date: __________

The Roberto Clemente - Santa Ana Health Clinic/ General Donation

* 105 W. Monument St. * Baltimore, MD 21201 * USA *  410-223-2630
or send it by fax 410-223-2628

The Roberto Clemente - Santa Ana Health Clinic, Inc., is recognized as exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. A copy of our current financial statement is available upon request by contacting Juan Munoz, The Roberto Clemente - Santa Ana Health Clinic, Inc. at 105 West Monument St, Baltimore, Maryland 21201. Documents and information submitted to the Secretary of State of Maryland under the Maryland Charitable Solicitations Act are available from the Office of the Secretary of State for the cost of copying and postage.