Dominican Republic (Tubagua and Sosua) February 2013

Submitted by Ken Weaver on Tue, 2012-07-31 13:32
This team is now full and closed to new applicants. Please review our "Current Available Teams" list for other volunteer opportunities.
Date: 
02/09/2013 - 02/16/2013
Team :
Dominican Republic (Tubagua and Sosua) DR0213 Team

PLEASE NOTE:  This is a private group for Christiana Care Hospital.      This trip has been primarily arranged for the Christiana Care Hospital and is for eight days rather than our typical two week trips

This team will have a PHH team leader and clinical coordinator and provide pre-trip planning and organization as well as lead the team while in the D.R.. 

We have an open enrollment two week team to the Dominic Republic which is scheduled to depart in July of 2013 that is currently available to new applicants.

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 duration of the trip. 


Working in one of the Haitian Batey's during the July 2012 trip

Tubagua will serve as a home base for the team 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 by this team include Tubagua, the Yassica area (Including Yaroa Abajo and other remote communities) as well as operating out of the Monkey Jungle Medical Clinic for the last two days of the trip.  This is a region with very limited access to healthcare where there is a large Haitian population that a true need for our services.

 

 

Community of Yaroa Abajo

 

 

 

July 2012 Team at the Monkey Jungle Medical Clinic site

 

Patient waiting area at the Monkey Jungle Clnic

The last two clinics of the trip 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)

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 two 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, and the Monkey Jungle medical clinic.
  • Sleeping arrangements:  The team will be staying at the Tubagua Plantation Eco Lodge.   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 th Tubagua Plantation Eco Lodge. 
  • Physical requirements:  This is a moderate demand trip where most needs are comfortably provided for.
  • Climate:  You can expect temperatures in the Mid 70's to the Mid 80's in February.  You should be prepared for rain and/or sunshine!  February is near the end of the rainy season and wet and dry weather conditions are possible.

 

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
Note that applying for a team does not guarantee acceptance. All applicants will be notified of the status of their application no later than September 15, 2012. *Price is based on airfare rates that were established up to one year prior to travel date. PHH reserves the right add an additional airline surcharge fee in the event that airlines increase their fuel surcharge fees up to six months prior to trip departure date.
Application Due Date: 
Sat, 2012-09-15
Application Status Notification: 
Sun, 2012-09-30
Team Size: 
18
Team Leadership: 
Kathy Kieffer
Price: 
$1,800.00
Trip price will be discounted to $1,685.00 if all payments per your payment plan are made on time. Price includes airfare from major US cities(Excluding Alaska & Hawaii) to the Dominican Republic, ground transportation in the Dominican Republic, food and lodging in the Dominican Republic, all taxes as well as visa and government fees and a team t-shirt. The price does not include immunizations, airline luggage fees, and costs incurred outside of the Dominican Republic.

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