Dominican Republic (Tubagua, Munoz and Sosua Regions) July 2013
PLEASE NOTE: If you have a group of 10 or more medical professionals PHH can faciliate a private group trip to any of the countries in which we currently serve. We typically need a minimum of 6 months to arrange private group trips. (If you are interested in serving in a country that we do not currently provide services in please contact Ken Weaver, Director of Operations at: ken@projecthelpinghands.org to see if custom arrangements can be made for your group.
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The team will fly into Puerto Plata International Airport in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic and be taken by bus/van to the Tubagua Plantation Eco Lodge where the team will stay for the first week of the trip.
One of the housing units at Tubagua. The view looking back is absolutely beautiful!
Tubagua will serve as a home base for the team for the first week and you will travel out to the clinic locations each day and return to the same housing each evening. This team will provide both health care and health education services. Areas to be served from the Tubagua location include Tubagua, the Yassica area (Including Yaroa Abajo and other remote communities)
Community of Yaroa Abajo
Hatian "Batey" in Munoz. We will provide three days of Health Care and Health Education Services Here.
Beginning the second week of the trip the team will re-locate to Sun Camp . From Sun camp you will be prividing services to the Hatian "Batey's". There are three Batey's in Munoz where you will hold Health Care and Health Education Clinics serving a population of approximately 2,500 Hatians. This community was an absolute pleasure to work with during our July 2012 trip. They are very proud people and family orientated. As you can see in the photo above they spend most of their time outside of their homes enjoying games, their children and community activities. Their homes are very simple and the people very poor yet they are happy to have a place to live and work together as a united community. They have very limited access to healthcare and most residents that we saw in July of 2012 had not had a health exam in years, if ever!
July 2012 Clinic in one of the Munoz Batey's
July 2012 Team at the Monkey Jungle Medical Clinic site
Patient waiting area at the Monkey Jungle Clnic
The last two and a half days of clinics will be held at the "Monkey Jungle" health clinic where the team will also have the opportunity to enjoy the zipline, Monkey Jungle trails and other activities available at their facility. The Monkey Jungle compound was built and operates to generate revenue to support their free medical clinic. Their clinic is open on Saturdays to provide free medical and dental services to area residents. We will be providing health care and health education services to students from nearby schools as well as the nearby communities which are primarily inhabited by Haitians that have limited health care access.
Monkey Jungle has the only ACCT certified zip line on the North Coast of the D.R.
The team will have the opportunity to enjoy the Monkey Jungle, as well as the Monkey Jungle Zip Line Adventure on the afternoon of the last day in the D.R. The farewell dinner will also be held at this location hosted by the owner Charles Ritzen.
To learn more about July 2012 Dominican Republic team and see their photos please stop by the Project Helping Hands FACEBOOK page and "Like" us. You will then be able to see all of our activities and stay up to day on current teams and future activities.
Follow this LINK to view the July 2012 Dominican Republic team photos that are posted on our Flickr photo site!
Skill Requirememts:
The primary focus for this team is to provide general health care and health education services. We seek licensed health care professionals including but not limited to the following!
- Physicians
- Nurse Practitioners
- Physician Assistants
- Dentists
- RN's
- EMS Personnel
- Student Nurses
- Translators (Spanish/English/French Creole)
- Non-Medical Support Personnel
We welcome both medical and non-medical volunteers with a spirit of adventure and determination to partake in a culturally sensitive growth opportunity while helping others in need of our services. Above all you must be willing to work as a team for the common goal of our mission!
This trip is rated as Moderate!
- Amount of in-country travel: (Moderate) We will be traveling by bus/Van from Puerto Plata to three other locations within a one hour distance from the Puerto Plata Airport. From the housing location the team will have be transported "out and back" each day to the clinic locations in Tubagua, Yassica region, Munoz and the Monkey Jungle medical clinic.
- Sleeping arrangements: The team will be staying at the Tubagua Plantation Eco Lodge during the first week of the trip and Sun Camp DR the second week. The final night will be at a Hotel in Cabarete where the team will be able to enjoy a short visit to the beach. All facilities have beds, restrooms and showers. You will be sharing rooms with up to three others but with each person having their own bed.
- Running water/electricity: We will have running water and shower facilities. Electricity will be available most of the time. The DR does experience rolling blackouts and you might be without electricity at times (particularily in the evenings) All facilities have generator or solar power back up. Wireless internet is available at the Tubagua Plantation Eco Lodge and at Sun Camp in the Dining area.
- Physical requirements: This is a moderate demand trip where most needs are comfortably provided for.
- Climate: You can expect temperatures in the Mid 80's to the Mid 90's in July. You should be prepared for rain and/or sunshine! This is Hurricane season in the Carribean and you should be prepared for thunderstorms with rain.
Frequently Asked Questions!
What is included in the trip price?
- Round trip Domestic Airfare (from a major US airport)
- Round trip International Airfare (From USA departure point to destination country)
- All in-country air and ground transportation (All transportation while in our host country)
- All applicable VISA fees
- Airport departure taxes
- Travel Insurance
- All meals and drinking water while in our host country
- Housing while in our host country (Varies depending on specific trip from Hotels to School House floors to camping)
- Project Helping Hands team shirt
What is not included in the trip price?
- Airline baggage fees
- Meals or lodging in the USA due to a forced layover
- Passport Fees
- Fees associated with vaccinations
- Personal Gear
- Personal choice food or snacks
