To the Editor of La Prensa,

I am writing to La Prensa on behalf of the University of Toledo College of Medicine Students for Medical Missions. Every year in August, a team of students and physicians travels to León, Nicaragua on a weeklong medical mission.

We partner with local physicians and a León NGO, El Ayudante. During the week, we perform primary care services for children and adults. We are also starting a women’s health initiative to improve local women’s access to OB/GYN care.

Every patient we see gets a thirty-day supply of multi-vitamins and treatment for parasites. Older women also receive a thirty-day supply of calcium supplements. In addition to health care, we give away clothing and sunglasses to children. Last year, we began donating reading glasses.

As part of the preparation for this trip, we hold fundraising events and collect children’s clothing donations. All the money we raise goes to buying medicines for patients. Team members pay their own travel expenses.

Please inform the Latino community of these annual efforts. Sincerely,

Victoria Bradford

UT Medical Mission to Nicaragua

[email protected]
419-509-8431