Transcript MEDICAL MISSION TRIP TO DOMICIAN REPUBLIC FEB. 1

MEDICAL MISSION TRIP TO
LOS CACAOS,
SAN CRYSTOBAL,
DOMICIAN REPUBLIC
FEB. 1-5, 2010
Arriving at the Airport
At the Peace Corps office in Santo Domingo in the beginning of our trip.
In this photo: Julie Bostic, Carol Borg , Denise S. Hanisch-Cameron, Cindy
Whitaker, Joni Hill, Sandy Koch
We spent time sorting, labeling and writing instruction in Spanish on all of the
medications that we brought with us.
It was dark when we finally got everyone and
everything together to go up the mountain to
Los Cacaos
Denise and Brittany had purchased an exam table,
refrigerator, printer, and a blood draw table locally, with
donations.
LOS CACAOS HOSPITAL
Brittany (left) along with Peace Corp volunteers
from the area, served as translators and guides.
The first day, Denise and Julie went to an outreach clinic at Los
Manantiales. They saw over 100 people that day.
28 year old single Mom going to high
school on Sundays 1 1/2 hours away.
People began arriving and signing in to
see the American Doctors
Children lined up outside with their
parents for the clinic.
These two girls walked together to get
to the clinic.
This is the Exam room in the hospital at Los Cacaos.
The Cardiac Monitor/EKG equipment was donated to
the clinic from the Dahl Memorial clinic in Skagway,
Alaska. Note the table it is sitting on.
Carol’s husband, Steve Manders designed and made
the needed tables from the lumber that was available.
Sandy Koch filled her 3 days teaching the
Doctors and Nurses how to use the Cardiac
Monitor.
Sandy worked on teaching the nurses how to take an
EKG reading, until they ran out of the disposable nodes.
The local people were very happy to now have an
Ultrasound available. Joni taught the Doctors and
Nurses how to use the equipment.
The longer they worked with the ultrasound, the more
available pregnant ladies showed up to take advantage of the
equipment. They were so surprised to find out the sex of
their baby.
The hospital emergency room.
The newly stocked lab and refrigerator brought by the
team. Cindy spent a lot of time coordinating things
with the facility in a neighboring city where lab samples
will be sent.
The clinic pharmacy.
Clinic Reception area.
Hospital waiting room
The medical team are ready to see
patients,
Carol with a patient and her daughter.
A patient who brought her baby in.
Carol receives a Thank You from a
young patient.
A young mother with her baby.
Many many children were brought in.
An 80 some year old lady who rode on a motorbike
with her husband to come many miles to the clinic.
A mother & her children.
Scenic view from Los Cacaos.
Carol & sister Diane who was also on
the trip. Diane spent 3 days working
with the computers at the Coffee
Association.
The Coffee Association in Los Cacaos
that Brittany works with.
The American group and local Peace
Corp volunteers and translators invited
them to come for a tour.
Bags of raw coffee to be sorted and
roasted.
Brittany telling about the roasting and
bagging of the coffee.
Sorting and then grinding or leaving
them as "whole bean" before
packaging.
After visiting the Coffee Association, most made their
way down to the local “Discotheque” to try some
famous Dominican “Presidente” beer.
Los Cacaos Scenery
The Coffee Association invited the group up for
delicious cappuccino. Later they made a bonfire and
introduced the DR folks to S’mores. Carol had the
forethought to bring the ingredients.
They loved the S’mores!! Brittany has been told that
this American tradition has officially been adopted by
the community of Los Cacaos!
Carol with children
A patient at the clinic
A mother and young baby
Young mother in a village where we
saw 97 patients in one day.
Two young girls
A young boy
Typical mountain home
Another typical home
Note the blonde child
Family in Santana
Carol on telephone!
Donkeys were a frequent mode of
transportation in the rural, outlying areas. Also
used to haul coffee and citrus fruits for harvest
Garbage truck by day, School bus by night. The high school kids
go to school at night so they can work during the day.
Friendly Geicho
Typical Electrical Splicing at it’s finest!! And they
wonder why the power goes on and off!!!
Steve with our hostess, Luce Maria. We stayed in her
and her husbands home for three nights. This is the
first family Brittany stayed with when she arrived.
Brittany, Carol and Steve. Brittany has served in
the Peace Corp at Los Cacaos, Dominican
Republic since the fall of 2008.
Brittany has her own place to live, this is her
bulletin board inside her front door. A Peace
Corp friend stands near by.
Brittany’s Kitchen/dining room
Brittany’s bedroom, complete with mosquito
netting…a necessity.
This little boy lives next door to her.
Thank you to everyone who helped
and donated, the community of Los
Casaos will be greatful forever.
The community of Los Cacaos thanks
you all!!!
Carol Borg
Diane Falken
Denise Hanisch-Cameron
Cindy Whitaker
Steve Manders
Joni Hill
Sandy Koch
Julie Bostic
The members of Skagway, AL
Presbyterian Church
The members of Grace Lutheran
Church, Willow Lake, SD