Self-Sustainable Maternal and Child Health Clinic
Background/Problem Statement:
Primary health care services provided by the Nicaraguan Ministry of Health (MOH) in the capital, Managua, lack the coverage and quality necessary to fulfill the needs of a large percentage of the population. Even though the services are supposed to be provided for free by the MOH, the population must still make a significant investment in order to be able to access a minimum package of services. Medications and laboratory services must be procured by patients from the private sector, making it impossible for some poorer patients to afford a decent level of care.
To address this problem, Manna Project International conducted a study in selected areas of Managua which determined that community members are in need of a health clinic and are willing to pay a reasonable amount for quality healthcare and medication. As a result, Manna Project International and Project HOPE-Nicaragua are proposing to enter a partnership with local NGOs, The Order of Malta in Nicaragua and the MOH to develop a primary care maternal and child health clinic to provide a quality package of services in an affordable manner to the poor but economically active populations of Ciudad Sandino.
This project will replicate the highly successful Project HOPE-Order of Malta Clinics project in the Dominican Republic, using the developed clinic model recognized by the Pan American Health Organization and the World Health Organization.
The success of these clinics clearly shows that their replication is a viable solution to the healthcare problems and will help improve maternal and child health in Nicaragua. Thus the central aim of this proposal is to identify sources/methodologies for funding in order to develop the clinic model in Managua and to guarantee the fastest sustainability of the clinic for possible expansion into other poor communities in Nicaragua.
A Proven Model:
The project has been successfully implemented in two communities in the Dominican Republic, resulting in an urban–based, fully self-sustainable Maternal and Child Health Clinic that serves 2,500 clients per month and is managed locally, and a second clinic in a rural area that has recently reached self-sufficiency. Project HOPE is also working to adapt this model to a third clinic in the Dominican Republic, as well as to one in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. Thus, the impact of expanding the project should have similar results in Nicaragua.
Replication Plan:
Based on the success of the project in the Dominican Republic, the plan is to replicate the project in Ciudad Sandino, a community of 70,115 in Managua, Nicaragua. This will provide high quality primary care services and health education, both within the clinic and to the surrounding community. We have the support of City Hall in Ciudad Sandino, as well as the support of the Ministry of Health at Central and Local levels. We are also networking with local and international NGOs, which will provide assistance and local primary health expertise, and work to identify additional sources/methodologies for funding in order to guarantee the fastest possible sustainability of the clinic. Project HOPE will provide technical, management and administrative training to the staff during the first three years, until the clinic reaches sustainability. A Board of Directors comprised of members of each organization involved will provide management oversight after this point.
Budget Requirement:
To replicate the project, Manna Project International must provide $200,000 toward the total costs that will be needed for the first three years. Costs decrease dramatically in the second and third year as the clinic reaches sustainability.
For more information about the clinic, or if you would like to donate towards this project,
please contact Angela Profeta at angela@mannaproject.org. 
