In Nicaragua, Adventist Church Inaugurates Brand New Hospital Facility

The Nicaragua Adventist Hospital in Esteli, Nicaragua, was inaugurated in Jan. 9, 2018, becoming the first private hospital in the city. Dozens of church and community leaders witnessed the historic ceremony. Image by Northwest Nicaragua Mission.

February 1, 2018 | Esteli, Nicaragua | Héctor Alvarado Araúz/IAD Staff

The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Nicaragua recently inaugurated a brand new facility for its Adventist Hospital in Estelí, Nicaragua. The facility becomes the only private hospital in the city, located 150 kilometers north of Managua—the capital city.

The Jan. 9 inauguration ceremony drew city officials and community and church leaders.

“This is a very important entrepreneurship lesson because the church has worked hard in Latin America with these initiatives and today it is our turn here in the city of Esteli to have this beautiful Adventist Hospital for the well-being of all Nicaraguans,” said Mayor of Estelí Francisco Valenzuela.

Ministry of Health Director Dr. Víctor Manuel Martínez also applauded the church for its focus on health care and its commitment to the community. “We are very glad to work together and move forward to accomplish so many things so that the northern part of the country can have better medical attention and become healthier,” said Martínez.

Church and community leaders tour the new hospital facility. Image by Northwest Nicaragua Mission/IAD

Inter-American Division President Pastor Israel Leito congratulated the efforts of the medical staff and everyone involved in the project to continue trusting in God as they continue providing health care. “We exist to serve and to share the love of Christ with everyone,” said Pastor Leito.

The three-floor modern facility has 10 private rooms and 20 beds, thanks to contributions by Loma Linda University’s (LLU) Adventist Health International, Inter-American Division, the South Central American Union, and initial funds by Dr. Donald Vargas an orthopedic surgeon born and raised in Nicaragua, now based in Texas, said Dr. Elie S. Honoré, Adventist Healthcare Services Inter-America president.

“The hard work of the hospital staff, led by Dr. Socorro Úbeda, has been tremendous during more than a decade,” said Honore. The Adventist Hospital used to be located at the city of La Trinidad but years later moved to a small rented house that kept serving the community with excellent medical care and community outreach, explained Honore.

Honore visited the new facility days before the inaugural ceremony with LLU’s Albin Grohar, PhD., associate professor of the School of Public Health, and Hospital Director Dr. Úbeda, on the continued collaboration among the health institutions. So far LLU has donated a brand new X-ray machine and supported the operating room by providing equipment and parts for the operating system regularly, explained Honore.

“There are plans for LLU medical teams to visit and teach in the new facility and assist with health clinics in the community,” said Honore.

“The excellent health care the community of Esteli has seen confirms once again how a hospital or clinic can be a center of influence in the community,” added Honore. “It’s about the church with its health message as a whole playing a very vital role in the life of that community in Esteli”.

Thanks to the health educational programs, medical brigades, and specific health programs carried out by the Adventist Hospital in Esteli, the government is inviting the church to branch out in other cities across the country, according to Honore.

The Nicaragua Adventist Hospital is own and operated by church in South Central American Union headquartered in Costa Rica. The hospital is part of a network of 14 hospitals operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church under AHS in Inter-America.