|PROJECTS|
I. MISSION:
"To accomplishment BHM’s mission, the committee needs to recruit 32 health professionals (Medical doctors, nurses, dentists, gynecologists, etc.) from the Dominico-Haitian Diaspora with fluency in Spanish and/or Haitian Creole."
II. MAIN GOALS:
a) Provide free primary medical care to low-income Haitians and Dominicans of rural border town communities in DR/Haiti.
b) Collect sufficient humanitarian donations to be shipped in a 20 sq. ft. container to Manzanillo, DR. This included but not limited to medical and school supplies, but most importantly medicine and food two months prior the Mission’s beginning date on 11/23.
c) Supply beneficiaries with free food, medical supplies, medicines and toys.
d) Conduct disease prevention workshops while the beneficiaries are waiting their turn.
III. LONG-TERM GOALS:
a) Collect funds for the completion and the furnishing of the unfinished FUNTOSALUD medical center in Manzanillo, which started construction with French Embassy funds in the Dominican Republic in order to benefit a larger number of people with the quality and dedicated care FUNTOSALUD has been providing for decades along both sides of the border and in the bateyes.
b) Collect funding for medical center’s sustainability hence it is able to function at full capacity on a long-term basis. This funding is pivotal for the development of the region, which will eventually serve as a model for other medical centers along the border and throughout the country.
IV. OBJECTIVES:
This student, professional, civic and human rights groups are collaborating in the development of a strong bi-cultural alliance to carry out proactive work plans such as a yearly Border Health Mission on the island and national humanitarian and solidarity caravan in the United States, medical facility development along the border towns of DR/Haiti, cultural delegations, and academic and grassroots dialogue projects, youth exchange programs, a documentary project, and other socioeconomic and cultural development projects for sustainability, social capital promotion, as well as to expose the richness of this region’s folklore and peoples.
V. METHODOLOGY:
The health professional team will provide free quality services to the members of Manzanillo, Dajabon and surrounding Haitian towns.
a) Medical journey of 7-8 hours each day, except the day of the cultural concert
b) Daily report back during breakfast and during dinner time
c) Daily morning group prayers (it is voluntary. We do not discriminate religion and/or beliefs)
d) Daily movement exercise or yoga (Members need to wake up an hour earlier to do this)
e) Keeping clear and good written logs for each beneficiary examined.
f) Report any incongruence, discontent, and/or needs during morning or night report back
FUNTOSALUD has been organizing medical operatives consistently since the late 1980’s in rural border towns, bateyes and impoverished communities in the Dominican Republic and Haiti. During these medical operatives, Dr. Maritza provides the beneficiaries with food, water, and toys for the children and even the adults claiming to have children. She usually brings a volunteer team of doctors and medical assistance providing a nine to ten hours humanitarian journey in each operative. Dr. Maritza starts organizing for the medical operative a week in advance with an indelible dedication and commitment.
This First Border Health Mission (BHM) is organized by a dedicated group of volunteers from the Dominican and the Haitian Diaspora community in the U.S. On November 23rd, the team will be received in Manzanillo in the province of Montecristi, by organizers Dr. Maritza and/or Alba Mota. The organizers will provide each team member an agenda which will be subjected to changes given the place we are going to be at. The team and organizing members are all staying together in Manzanillo so travel time does not take away from the mission time.
VI. First Border Health Mission (BHM) Projected Agenda
Sunday, November 23 to Sunday, November 30, 2008
November 23 Santiago, Dominican Republic Welcoming
November 24 -26 Manzanillo, Montecristi Clinic Orientation Mission starts
November 27 Montecristi Thanksgiving celebration
November 28 Manzanillo Clinic Follow-up-Medical Mission ends
November 29 Cultural even in Montecrist Network/Enjoy
November 30 Santiago, DR Traveling back home