The New Sattva Vita Holistic Health and Education Center in Managua Opens its Doors to the Community!!

After a year and a half of construction efforts, WWD-F's Sattva Vita Holistic Health and Education Center opened its doors this week to a community that has been waiting anxiously for its inauguration. Fundraising efforts in both Central America and the United States enabled the completion of the two story facility that will offer medical treatment and a range of health education classes and workshops to local residents. Sabana Grande is a poor, semi-rural district located about 20 minutes from downtown Managua. Initial results from a needs assessment survey conducted by WWD-F staff in Managua indicated a general lack of nutritious diet, healthy habits, and access to appropriate health care in the community. The new health center will promote healthy lifestyles that include the increased consumption of fruits and vegetables and regular physical exercise.

The first floor of the building opened this week to offer health services. Dr. Luisa Rojas, a medical doctor trained in both conventional and complementary health care, is the director of the medical staff. Community residents, facing a shortage of health care options in Sabana Grande, are very pleased that the center has finally opened. WWD-F hopes to complete the second floor within a month and then initiate its community health and nutrition initiative. This will include the training of local health promoters to educate the commuity about healthy lifestyles and the development of family gardens to increase access to healthy food.

Here are some recent images of the first patients at the clinic:

“The poor in Nicaragua cannot afford to get sick. There is no scheme to support those suffering from chronic illnesses; they just go hungry if they are unable to work.”

D r. Luisa Rojas, Sattva Vita Holistic Health and Education Center Staffperson