Borrower profile: Reina del Socorro Mendoza Suazo

by Susan Frisbie
Marketing and Development Director

Reina del Socorro Mendoza Suazo is a lab technician in the neighborhood in which she lives in the capital city of Managua. Opening at 7 a.m. Monday through Saturday, her modest yet efficient laboratory provides a vital service to the community. Reina explains that her lab makes life easier for her community because without a neighborhood laboratory, her neighbors would have to travel across the city to one of the hospitals to get blood tests and urinalysis services, causing them to have to miss out on at least half a day’s work.

She has been in business for over 20 years, but it is only through microcredit loans that she has been able to expand her business in order to better provide for the needs in her community. Reina’s loan from NICA Fund partner FODEM has allowed her to not only buy additional equipment, but also a generator that helps in the preservation of blood samples during Managua’s frequent power outages.

Currently, she is renting her lab space, but dreams of one day owning her own property. She hopes to take out future loans with FODEM to continue updating her equipment so that she can expand the services offered, which would generate greater income and set her on a path toward property ownership. Future loans will also help her continue her studies and update her certifications.