COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT NFP

THIS YEAR 18 TEAMS WORKED IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC - 7 PRIMARY CARE TEAMS, 7 SURGICAL TEAMS, 2 AUDIOLOGY, AND 2 NON MEDICAL TEAMS. THESE TEAMS INCLUDED 191 VOLUNTEERS. HOWEVER, THE SITUATION IN HAITI REMAINED TOO UNSTABLE WITH A HIGH LEVEL OF DANGER SO NO TEAMS WORKED IN HAITI. AND SADLY, OUR CLINIC WAS TAKEN OVER BY GANGS SO IT HAD TO BE ABANDONED. HOWEVER, WE MAINTAINED A STAFF OF 5 THAT CONTINUED TO SEE PATIENTS AT POLYCLINIQUE SCIENCE NOUVELLE. COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT ASSISTED IN PROVIDING ESSENTIAL HEALTHCARE BY BEING INVOLVED IN 3,158 MEDICAL VISITS IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC; 372 PROCEDURES WERE COMPLETED; AND 370 SCREENINGS FOR HEARING LOSS WERE PERFORMED. FOR THE FIRST TIME PHYSICAL MEDICINE AND REHABILITATION PROVIDERS ACCOMPANIED AN ORTHOPEDIC TEAM AND SAW 207 PATIENTS. THROUGH THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LOCAL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION IN VILLA VERDE (A SQUATTER COMMUNITY IN THE OUTSKIRTS OF SANTO DOMINGO, DR) COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT PROVIDED PRIMARY CARE ON A REGULAR BASIS BOTH AT THE NEWLY COMPLETED MEDICAL CLINIC AND THROUGH HOME VISITS AS NEEDED. COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT CONTINUED WORKING WITH THE NEW COMMUNITY OF DUQUESA WHICH SITS ON THE LARGEST GARBAGE DUMP IN SANTO DOMINGO AND IS MADE UP PRIMARILY OF HAITIAN REFUGEES. FOUR PRIMARY CARE TEAMS PROVIDED PRIMARY CARE BOTH IN THE LOCAL CLINIC AND THROUGH HOME VISITS.AN AGREEMENT WAS FINALIZED WITH THE DOMINICAN MINISTRY OF HEALTH TO ESTABLISH THE CLINIC IN VILLA VERDE AS A PRIMARY CARE UNIT WITH THE GOVERNMENT PROVIDING FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND STAFFING. THIS YEAR, COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT CONTINUED TO PROVIDE SUPPORT AS NEEDED TO THE PERALTA CLINIC WHICH CONTINUES TO BE OPERATED BY THE LOCAL COMMUNITY BOARD AND FINANCIALLY SUPPORTED BY THE DOMINICAN MINISTRY OF HEALTH.IN SANTO DOMINGO, THE GUEST HOUSE WAS USED FOR THE MEDICAL AND SURGICAL TEAMS AS WELL AS THE COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT OFFICE.