DOMINICAN
REPUBLIC MEDICAL MISSION TRIP 2007
The Medical Mission trip to the Dominican Republic was held from January 25 to February 3, 2007. This year there were 49 participants: 13 from the Midwest, 32 from the Philadelphia area, and 4 who heard about the trip and stayed in another hotel following a vacation in the Dominican Republic. This year we were blessed to have 10 teenagers join the mission team. Some had been on missions previously and/or been to third-world countries. Those participating from St. Luke’s parish were: Dr. George Stollsteimer, Margaret Firth, Ruth Mooney, and Charles Warren.
The Medical Mission Team worked under the auspices of the Episcopal Church of the Dominican Republic and with Fr. Ramon Ubiera Torres, priest of the Parish of St. Mary the Virgin, Montellano, Puerto Plata. This is on the north shore of the Dominican Republic, on the Atlantic Ocean. Montellano is a small city of about 20,000, including Haitian immigrants. Puerto Plata is a large city a few miles away.
Team members arrived over several days. Because of the large number of participants we were able to set up clinics in two different locations each day in the Montellano and Puerto Plata areas. Some of the clinic sites were in very poor villages in the midst of the sugar cane fields which supply seasonal work for only five months.
A typical day’s schedule was:
7:00 AM - Mass (optional)
7:30 AM - Breakfast
8:30 AM - Leave for the clinics
9:30 AM - Clinics begin
4:00 PM - Clinics end; Return to hotel
6:00 PM - Relax; happy hour (optional)
7:30 PM - Review of day; dinner
8:30 PM - Prepare medical supplies and food for next day’s clinics
On Sunday, January 28, we divided into two groups. One group went to church at our companion parish, St. Mark’s, Puerta Plata with Fr. Rafael and the other group attended mass at St Mary the Virgin, Montellano with Fr. Ramon. Following Mass, a “private” clinic was offered for the members of those congregations.
The medical mission trip was very successful with approximately 3000 patients treated during the 10 day trip. The members of the team were very thankful for all the donations of toothpaste, toothbrushes and sample soaps, shampoos, and lotions. They were deeply appreciated by the many people we saw. Every person who came to the clinic received a care package that included the above items for every member of their family. In addition, families with infants were given receiving blankets, diapers, and a baby outfit.
pictures from 2006 medical mission
2007 Medical Mission Team UPDATE
We shared in our fourth Medical Mission to the Dominican Republic with the Diocese of Quincy, only this year, St. Luke’s assumed the major responsibility for this outreach. This medical mission took place from January 25 through February 3. Dr. George Stollsteimer, Margaret Firth, and Ruth Mooney from St. Luke's were joined by about 25 physicians and nurses from our area. They were joined by about 12 other people from the Midwest making this the largest team ever. In addition we were joined by our own Charles Warren along with about five others youths from the local area. Four women who were vacationing in the area that week decided to extend their "vacation" and spend a week with us, one was of them spoke Spanish which was very helpful ! They are all from the mid-west and heard about the mission through a woman living in the Puerto Plata area.
Clinics were set up in Puerto Plata, Mosovi, Montellano, Caraballo, and other rural parts of this sugar cane growing area where we have been in prior years. Due to the great numbers of team members this year, we were able to schedule clinics in three new sites. Although these villages and cities are near the resort areas of the north shore, the people here are quite poor and there are very limited medical facilities they can use. The staff offered hospitality and performed triage work; the medical staff diagnosed, and offered on-site treatment; medications were dispensed for home use; and the clergy offered spiritual care, including prayers for healing, walked patients through the treatment process, visited homes when appropriate, and acted as "gophers."
Seventy five boxes of supplies and medications were shipped to the Dominican. The team had contacted Continental Airlines for free freight. An arrangement was made where part of the cost was paid by the airline, however in 2006 American Airlines sent the 35 boxes for free. We had hoped for the same to happen this year but it did not happen.
