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 harv est

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