Every year we host a visiting medical brigade attending around 1500 patients in over 20 mainly rural communities in the department of Estelí.
Gives financial support for people in hardship to support costs of medications, supplies, laboratory tests, specialty referrals, and long distance transport if necessary.
Training workshops to local volunteer health promoters
Hospitalist attends at the pediatric unit of the local hospital providing patient care and medical education support.
A team of social work and psychology experts support and partner with ICES in various capacities.
Medical Brigade
Since 1999, Superemos has partnered with Dr. Peter Loewinthan, a pediatrician retired from DOT House Health of Boston, Massachusetts in the development of the foundation’s health programs. Every February, Superemos hosts a 3 week medical brigade, which is closely coordinated with the Ministry of Health. Dr. Loewinthan provides significant fundraising support and organizes a large multi-disciplinary group of health professionals to visit Estelí and to serve communities in the municipalities of Estelí, La Trinidad and San Nicolas. Leadership for this annual medical brigade has transitioned to Dr Robert Joseph “Joe” Daniels-Mulholand as of 2024. Through his close relationship with Boston University School of Medicine, Dr. Loewinthan has been able to host a group of medical students and pediatric residents who have been able to gain academic credit for their work during this brigade (paused since 2019). In addition, Dr. Bruce Kenney has hosted family medicine residents from the Central Maine Medical Center Family Medicine residency, also able to gain academic credit through their experiences.
We have developed strong relationships with local health officials and teams allowing the brigade to work in collaboration and coordination with the local health system and its providers. By working directly with local teams to support existing programs, services and resources, we can come in even for a short time and make a big difference, which is fundamentally different than other types of medical tourism and builds sustainable relationships and resources for the people of Estelí. Many providers deliver care directly within the local communities, alongside and in coordination with the local health care team, including community health workers, nurses and physicians. Others provide various services requested by the local health ministry. For instance, Dr. Kirsten Meisinger of Cambridge Health Alliance has supported colposcopy procedures and resident teaching at the specialty gynecology center while they were in the midst of rolling out and overwhelmed by cervical cancer screening services. In other years, she has focused on community health worker education. Dr. Dennis Simon, a pediatric critical care physician from UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, lectures to faculty and students on selected topics in pediatric critical care including the management of severe sepsis, shock, and trauma. He attends rounds at the pediatric unit of the local hospital and provides consultation in the newly built pediatric intensive care facility
Additional Activities
Superemos hosts a variety of other health care providers throughout the year. Among many examples, Superemos hosted several medical brigades from the University of Florida School of Medicine between 1999 and 2007. Dr. John Godoy, a Swedish optometrist, has visited us once or twice annually since 2017 and provided optometry care to local and Caribbean coastal communities as well as vision screening training to community health workers. In 2019, Superemos hosted Katie London, a social worker from Massachusetts who works with children with special needs including autism, for a month during which time she provided trainings and workshops for parents, educators at the public school for special needs, the Ministries of Family and of Health, and the local campus of the National Autonomous University to help support the families of children with special needs and the systems with whom they frequently interface.
Superemos welcomes inquiries from health care professionals who wish to offer their services and expertise to lift the health of the communities around Estelí.
Dental Program
Prevention
Dental caries (cavities) is one of the most common chronic diseases of childhood and a frequent cause of missed school days. With the aim of preventing cavity formation, we facilitate an oral health program for low income families enrolled in Estelí's Centro de Infantil (CDI) preschool program. After doing a community needs assessment in 2014, we, in collaboration with the Ministries of Health and Families and Adolescents and the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine under the direction of Michelle M. Henshaw, DDS, MPH, started a comprehensive oral health program in the 12 CDI preschools in Estelí. We first educated teachers regarding dental disease prevention and provided training for fluoride varnish application. Approximately 800 children receive fluoride treatments four times yearly. The program has grown to include classroom toothbrushing and parent oral health education workshops.
Treatment
Because there is nearly no dental care access for children in our community, a team of dentists and pediatric dentists visits yearly, bringing supplies and providing much needed care, including sealants, cleanings, fillings and crowns to children. The Salud de Reguma generously donates space for the dental team to work, making this work possible. These treatments will begin to be located at the dental school at the University of Nacional Francisco, so that they can work with and help train local dental students.
Community Health Program
Our community health programs range from educational workshops at the Women’s School and in rural communities, to direct health care services, to financial aid, to community development projects. Portions of these programs have become less of a focus as local conditions have improved making these efforts less important.
FOR WOMEN’S SCHOOL STUDENTS
Weekly educational talks on reproductive health, coping with domestic violence, and personal development.
Direct health care services, including gynecologic care and cervical cancer screening.
STD prevention campaigns and condom dispensal.
Monitors program participants with chronic conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
Supporting and facilitating various rural and urban development projects:
Installation of cycle pumps in wells and ecological toilets
Development of pedestrian bridges and solar systems
Construction of preschool classrooms and kitchen areas
Creation of a dormitory area in the local hospital for dialysis patients traveling from rural areas.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH
Provides anti-parasitic medication, dental hygiene products and education, and screening for skin and scalp conditions to children in rural communities.
FINANCIAL HARDSHIP FUND
Gives financial support for people in hardship to support costs of medications, supplies, laboratory tests, speciality referrals, overnight accommodation prior to appointments, and long distance transport to appointments if necessary.