The Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) is providing a $103m loan to help build and equip the Carlos Centeno Hospital in Las Minas in the Republic of Nicaragua.  

In this regard, an agreement was formalised between SFD CEO Sultan Abdulrahman Al-Marshad and Nicaragua's Finance and Public Credit Vice Minister Bruno Gallardo Palaviccine, during the signing ceremony.  

The event was also attended by Nicaraguan Finance and Public Credit Minister Ivan Acosta, Nicaraguan Health Minister Martha Reyes, and Deputy Saudi Ambassador to Mexico Sultan Al-Muzaini. 

The support from the SFD, a government agency that offers soft loans to finance infrastructure projects in developing countries, will facilitate the construction of the 25,000m² Carlos Centeno Hospital. 

This hospital will have a bed capacity of more than 300 and is designed to serve several neighbouring regions, offering a wide range of healthcare services.  

It will feature specialised clinics such as for surgery and comprehensive child vaccination, as well as integrated emergency departments.  

Additionally, SFD’s first development loan agreement signed with Nicaragua includes provisions for training and qualifying medical staff. 

100NOTICIAS quoted Ivan Acosta as saying: “This project of the 'Carlos Centeno' departmental hospital, in Las Minas, is a strategic investment for public health.” 

"This hospital will be able to respond to the specialities of paediatrics, gynaecology-obstetrics, surgery and internal medicine,” Reyes told 100NOTICIAS. 

The latest agreement is a part of the SFD's ongoing efforts to support developmental projects in various developing countries.  

It also highlights the SFD's efforts to assist Nicaragua in addressing its economic and development challenges, while underlining the critical role of international cooperation and solidarity in achieving sustainable development goals. 

Al-Marshad said: “In this way, we support (Nicaragua's) social and economic growth through job creation. This is an important step towards achieving one of the sustainable development goals for good health and well-being.”