 Dominican Republic Health Education and Medical Mission
Volunteers Needed!
All medical and non-medical professionals interested in making a difference are needed!
Wednesday, November 11, 2009 to Sunday, November 15, 2009
The Dominican Foundation in conjunction, with our partners El Instituto de Desarrollo Dominicano (The Dominican Development Institute - IDDI), has organized a Health Education and Medical Mission trip for November 2009. The trip will provide volunteers an overview of the Dominican healthcare system and the health challenges Dominicans face every day. Additionally, we will host a medical mission at the Municipal Hospital of Alcarrizos (El Hospital Municipal Los Alcarrizos) which serves an impoverished and underserved area on the outskirts of Santo Domingo.
One focus of the medical mission will be on women’s health (OB/GYN services), including a pap smear clinic, led by an OB/GYN and Reproductive Health Specialist from Columbia University. The mission will also focus on other health issues of this community including, dental care and internal medicine, among others. We currently are seeking more physicians particularly in the area of endocrinology, cardiology, pediatrics, obstetrics, and dentistry to join our mission.
Non-medical professionals will also have an important role in the medical mission by organizing incoming patients, checking on medical materials, etc. There will also be an opportunity for those interested to distribute water filters and assist in clean drinking water clinics.
The preliminary itinerary is as follows:
Wednesday, November 11, 2009:
| Morning: |
Arrive in Santo Domingo |
| Afternoon/Early Evening: |
Dominican Healthcare System Educational Tour |
| Evening: |
Welcome Dinner and Presentation by IDDI |
Thursday and Friday, November 12-13, 2009:
| All Day |
Medical Mission – Alcarizzos |
Saturday, November 14, 2009:
| Morning: |
Dominican Healthcare System Educational Tour (continues) |
| Afternoon/Evening: |
Free Time (Return to Santo Domingo or Head to Beach) |
Sunday, November 15, 2009 Return Home
Cost per person: $US750** Includes: Airport Transfers, All Transportation in Santo Domingo, 4 nights Hotel (single room), breakfast, and Welcome Dinner on Wednesday, simple lunch on Wed, Thursday and Friday (sandwiches). Does not include Airfare or additional meals (not listed above).
** The Dominican Foundation will also purchase one water filter per participant to be distributed in the Alcarizzos community. The lack of safe drinking water is a serious problem in the Dominican Republic, especially in rural areas of the country that have poor accessibility. Around the world, approximately 4 million people, most of them children under the age of 5 die each year due to the lack of access to adequate sources of drinking water. In 2003, more than 200,000 cases of diarrhea were reported in the Dominican Republic.
The water filter is a simple and cheap solution. It can produce five gallons of water in an hour at a very low price. The use of the water filter combined with an educational program on environmental sanitation and personal hygiene can help decrease diseases, especially acute diarrhea, that have a high mortality rate in children under age five.
A portion of the filter’s cost is charged to each beneficiary household, in order for recipients to properly value the filter and have an incentive to attend the training provided. However, all water filter recipients are provided with micro-credit options to fund the additional cost. In other words, in the financing of each filter there is a donated portion and a micro-loan portion.
We hope that this action will decrease the morbidity rates of acute diarrhea and contribute to these families’ health and human development.
For more information or to complete a registration form to attend the November mission, please email Liv Vesely.
In 2004, the Dominican Foundation and her partner, The Dominican Institute for Integral Development (IDDI - El Instituto de Desarrollo Dominicano Integral) created a program giving students and adults the opportunity to volunteer in one of the many sustainable development projects in the Dominican Republic. The program, "Ser Voluntario", which means "Become a Volunteer," introduces students and adults to the beauty and charm of the Dominican Republic while making a difference in communities throughout the island.
IDDI has accumulated vast experience in the development and execution of community plans and organizations. Through "Ser Voluntario", volunteers will work with experienced professionals such as engineers, agronomists, environmentalists, scientists, doctors, etc., gaining practical experience and knowledge about the problems facing impoverished areas of the Dominican Republic, and the methodology to create sustainable development.
This program is very different from other volunteer programs since IDDI is not a full-time volunteer program that simply places volunteers with organizations around the globe. IDDI is one of the primary non-governmental, development organizations in the Dominican Republic that has continuously worked toward the long-tern sustainable development of this beautiful country. We do not except volunteers year-round since our primary business is integral development. However, we have offered a limited number of volunteers the opportunity to work with us each summer so they may obtain practical development experience while working directly with local communities.
So much needs to be done but often these projects lack resources such as manpower, money, and people who care. As a volunteer you will directly make a difference, lending your time and energy. Additionally, the money you raise through the program fee will directly be donated to the project you work on.
Please join us by becoming a volunteer this summer!
If you have questions please contact us at volunteer@dominicanfoundation.org
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