GlobeMed at Duke University partners with Salud Sin Límites in Siuna, Nicaragua to improve the health of adolescents and youth.
GlobeMed at Duke University + Salud Sin Limites
Chapter
GlobeMed at Duke University | Durham, North Carolina
Partner
Salud Sin Límites | Las Quebradas, Nicaragua
Key Fact
Almost the entire population of the North Atlantic Autonomous Region (La RAAN), where Salud Sin Límites is located, lives in conditions defined as extreme poverty by the UN. Fruits and vegetables are only available in the “urban zones” of La RAAN. In villages like Las Quebradas, they are a luxury.
“In the name of Salud Sin Límites and the community of Las Quebradas in Siuna, la RAAN, Nicaragua, we would like to thank you for your excellent work focusing on the health of the impoverished—we believe that you are truly demonstrating leadership through your commitment to public health and social justice.”
– Juan Herrera Urbina, Project Manager, Salud Sin Límites
About the Partnership
Salud Sin Límites (SSL) Nicaragua (Health Unlimited) is part of the International Health Unlimited network (now Health Poverty Action). SSL works in the Northern Atlantic Autonomous Region (La RAAN) of Nicargua with indigenous communities that have been historically marginalized by the central government. This branch of the Health Poverty Action network was founded to prevent HIV amongst youth, create a safe space for mothers to give birth, and protect children from violence.
La RAAN has some of the highest rates of inadequate housing, poor water supply, overcrowding and low education levels in the country. To improve the health and infrastructure of this region, SSL engages local youth in education around sexual health, leadership development, advocacy training and “radionovelas”—weekly radio shows which discuss a diverse set of health and social issues the communities face. GlobeMed at Duke joined SSL in fall 2010 and have raised over $14,000 since.
Project
GlobeMed at Duke is working to help Salud Sin Limites build a shelter for victims of domestic violence. Widely supported by the community, the shelter will be built on land that has been donated by the town government and construction is set to begin in the spring of 2013. The center will house mental, legal, and educational support for women provided by the Women’s Commission in Siuna. It will thus serve not only as a shelter but also as a place where women can begin to rebuild their lives after leaving a situation of domestic violence.
The initial one-story shelter will:
- House 10 women in double bedrooms, where they will be able to stay for the duration of the legal process of reporting domestic violence.
- Have an office for legal advice, an office for psychological attention, a living room, a kitchen, and other facilities to meet the womens’ needs.
In the long term, Salud Sin Limites is hoping to create a second floor to double the shelter’s capacity and add a job training facility to help the women begin their new life after leaving a situation of domestic violence.
Impact
GlobeMed at Duke and SSL will work together to raise $10,000 for construction of a shelter for victims of domestic violence in Siuna Nicaragua. In doing so, the completion of the project will offer women suffering from domestic violence a safe place to stay along with legal and psychological services for the duration of their stay.
Get Involved
Read GlobeMed at Duke University’s annual report and donate to their cause. Interested in joining the chapter? Contact duke@globemed.org.
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