06/17/2022
Crago Family Medicine is so proud of our Nurse Practitioner, Rhiannon Hill, CRNP! Please read about her recent mission trip to the Dominican Republic.
Greetings Crago Family Medicine,
In May, I finally was able to travel back to Dominican Republic through Giving Hands Foundation of Barahona and New Life Baptist Church. This was an especially exciting trip as it was the grand opening of the new medical clinic. As you can see in the pictures, our team in blue shirts are standing in front of the beautiful clinic. This clinic is the product of many donations and hands on construction from our non-medical team members and hired help from the batey (village/town) that the clinic will serve. This medical clinic is the VERY FIRST continuous access to about 2,000 people in the batey of Autagracia and some surrounding bateys. Prior to this large clinic, only "pop up" clinics were available and did not provide ongoing medical care to meet the needs of this poverty population. The new clinic includes a waiting room, nurses station, vaccine station, medical exam rooms, a pharmacy, ER/urgent care, storage, a bathroom with a REAL FLUSHING TOILET (no toilet paper please!!!!), a provider sleeping area/living space with a kitchen and shower. It is amazing what God will provide when asked.
The people of the batey are living in remote, rural streets with rows of shack construction with dirt floors for homes. As much as 80% of the population is unemployed and have little access to clean water, indoor plumbing, refrigeration, or transportation to town for medical needs. The education provided in most bateys equate to an 8th grade education, if the kids make it that far. However, these people are very happy and grateful for what they have.
For 6 days, I traveled to the DR, treated patients in the clinic, attended the 2 hour grand opening ceremony, talked with people of the batey, traveled to another batey for a "pop up" clinic there and treated patients, went on home visits, and gave a healthy body/sex talk to a group teens attending a volleyball tournament. The team that I worked with was complete with our super chill pastor Greg, Dr. Steven Wilson (retired radiation oncologist from Hermitage area), fantastic nurses, bible school instructors, and the founders Dr. Jacob Ramirez and his expecting wife, Felicia, and our wonderful interpreters. Se habla Espanol muy un poco- I speak very little Spanish.
Thanks to many donations-the pharmacy was fully stocked for this trip. Also, wound care supplies, orthopedic supplies, and other non-pharmacy supplies were donated. Please check out Giving Hands Foundation of Barahona's page to read more information about this AMAZING clinic.
