New Mobile Lab for Nicaragua: 2020

Help Build a Mobile Lab for Nicaragua

As many of you know, I have been working with a Nicaragua based NGO, Amigos for Christ, for the last 10 or 11 years. I spend my time raising money mainly for the medical team, that has done amazing work in lowering mortality due to diarrhea, lowering incidence of parasitic infections, and improving nutrition. This year is no different. (click here to donate if you get a tl;dr vibe)

Letter from Annie and Juanita

See the email from Annie and Juanita, 2 of the leaders of the medical team. (You can see a video of Juanita here).

Dear Bill,

Thank you so much for reaching out to ask how you can help our Mobile Lab team this year!

Just like the rest of the world, we are adjusting to the changes and precautions we have to take

to keep those we serve safe. But one thing is certain – the mobile lab is absolutely essential to

the work we are doing to help families on the path to long-term health. Thank you for being

such a great advocate for this project.

Last year your group gave $3,788.00 to support the mobile laboratory project that helps detect and treat kidney diseases and parasitic infections. In 2019, 8,705 community members were tested for these infections—and this was possible because of your teams efforts.

Each year, you reach out to Juanita and her team and ask how you can help. Eager and excited,

Juanita brainstorms what the biggest health needs are in the 20 communities involved in Plan 7.

After much thought and collaboration, she responds to you and that’s when you do your magic.

You humbly reach out to your friends and colleagues to get them onboard with what Juanita

and her team does. You help her dreams for our Nicaraguan brothers and sisters become a

reality.

Without you, 506 people would not have been treated for kidney disease and 3,356 people

would not have been treated for parasites. Bill, we are so thankful for your team and your generous heart. Amigos would not be the same without you.

I’ve put together some information about the lab and what the greatest needs are this year for

the Mobile Lab. Amigos for Christ is currently partnered with 21 rural Nicaraguan communities

consisting of 1,568 families. They are the people who will benefit from your generosity!!

Thank you Bill! Let me know if you have any questions! Thank you for all you do.

Juntos,

Annie

See the full document here

The Mobile Lab: This year's project.

Why is the Mobile Lab so important? An individual or family’s health is absolutely essential to live a fulfilled daily life. In Nicaragua, family’s often struggle with illness that are completely preventable. Amigos is on a mission to change that by testing families for the most common illnesses we see, treating those illnesses, and educating families on how to prevent them in the future. 

What illnesses is the Mobile Lab focused on? 

• Intestinal Parasites due to poor sanitation
• Kidney Disease to inadequate water consumption. 
• Respiratory Disease due to inhaling cooking smoke. 

The project has done wonders. In some communities, we've seen deaths down 30% from diarrhea. I have seen children get healthier and stronger when they have access to clean water. (Ask me about Angel and Avril).

What does the lab look like? Here's a picture:

(Picture from 2019 doing lab work in the first mobile lab)

How does it fit in with what Amigos does?

How does the Mobile Lab project fit into the big picture of a community partnership? In the 21 communities we are currently serving, Amigos is committed to a seven-year partnership with each community. For these seven years, we are focused on helping the community achieve five goals. 

This effort is called “Plan 7”, our community development model. The third goal of Plan 7 is: Reduce Preventable Disease. The Mobile Lab is the guiding project in identifying disease and informing the best path forward to prevention. Infrastructure changes are also part of the Plan 7 efforts. A clean water system, bathroom, and clean air kitchen help a family fully prevent disease in the future. 

Click here to see more on Plan 7.

The Ask

So what is the ask? Simple, please help me raise the $9,235 to keep the Mobile Lab effort going strong. I'll donate $1000 to kick it off , and get my company, VMware, to match. (If you're a VMware employee, or you work for a company that has a match, please give through your match system and add the designator "Bill Roth Mobile Lab".)

So, if you'd like to help, please click below to help fund the Mobile Lab.

As always, reach out if you have questions.