The Team at Clinica Verde

March 18, 2020

Dear Friends and Supporters,

We wanted to check in with you to let you know how we’re doing at Clinica Verde as we face the COVID-19 pandemic. Although Nicaragua has not yet reported any cases of COVID-19, we expect that it’s only a matter of time. As of today, neighboring Costa Rica has reported 50 cases and Honduras has reported 9 cases. (NOTE: After this letter was published the first COVID-19 case was reported in Nicaragua.)

At Clinica Verde, we’ve put in place protocols to protect our staff, patients and the community. We’ve ceased all community outreach activities and non-essential services, including optometry. Our commitment to education, prevention and early detection is critical to our role as health care providers in the community. Clinica Verde staff leadership, Yolanda Paredes-Gaitan and Rafael Morales, are doing a great job addressing issues of safety while keeping foremost in mind our mission to care for the community. We’ll assess the situation daily and consider the possibility of closing services if the situation worsens to the point where we feel we can’t responsibly protect our team and patients.

Like most places, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is severely limited. Clinica Verde is in communication with the Ministry of Health of Nicaragua and will coordinate our response with local authorities, keeping this limitation in mind.

In times like this, we’re reminded of the heroism of our staff and the value of each patient we have the privilege of serving. We’re also reminded that you – our friends and supporters – have made everything we do possible. Thank you. To us, you are also heroes of humanity.

We received notice today that Benevity, a global leader of corporate social responsibility software, has offered to match every dollar donated up to $300,000, so if you’re moved to give at this time you can do so here:

Clinica Verde Matching Challenge

We send our heartfelt wishes to you, your families, and all of those who strengthen the weave of life and love in this world we share.

Con amor,
The Board of Clinica Verde
Susan Dix Lyons, Chair
Jan Nissen, RN, Vice-Chair
David Davidovic, Treasurer
Paige Preston, Secretary
Alicia Hardy, LCSW
Nikhil Bumb
Doug Wilson, MD
Majd Zayzafoon, MD
Cristiana Chamorro
+ The Awesome Team at Clinica Verde in Nicaragua