Audiologists are a rarity in the Dominican Republic, a country of 10.6 million people on the island of Hispaniola, which it shares with Haiti in the Caribbean Sea. According to the American Academy of Audiology, one nonprofit hospital system, eight private hearing centers, and some private practice ear, nose, and throat physicians are responsible for providing hearing care for the entire country. These resources are clustered in Santo Domingo and Santiago, the country’s two largest cities. Millions of people live in slums, and one-third of the population is below the poverty line. The country has universal health care, which no longer covers hearing aids, and rarely provides amplification or treatment for children.
Roger and Liz Fagan stepped in to fill this void and have provided 2,577 hearing aids over 23 trips to affected people in the Dominican Republic since 2002. In our Friday meeting, they shared the results of their most recent trip during which they provided 200 hearing aids. They also trained some audiologists who are working with the help of Roger and Liz to design a new audiology clinic. Even though a power surge blew a regulator out of a receptacle and caused a small fire, the two conducted various acoustic tests to determine how best to solve individual hearing loss, fitted hearing aids, and taught patients how to use their new devices. “When we start teaching people how the hearing aid works, we need a translator, but when you see the happy faces, especially a child here in the boonies? This is why we do this.”
Roger Fagan fits hearing aid.
Exchange of Rotary flags.
A delighted patient.
3H Water Project Expands In Dominican Republic
Access to clean water is a significant problem in the Dominican Republic with almost 30 percent of the population lacking access. In the bateyes, the problem is particularly acute. Most of the water infrastructure projects supported by the country’s government are in tourist areas, not in the rural poverty-stricken areas. Erik Greven, David Small, and Dick Giles shared the results of their latest trip to Batey 50 in a remote region of the country characterized by horrible roads and extreme poverty, where ox carts are a normal mode of transportation, and people live in corrugated shacks, all described by Erik and David in their presentation.
The Portland Rotary team, joined by Carolyn Bullimer, President of the Brunswick Rotary, and Ricardo Boehm from the Palm Beach Rotary, installed 100 Kohler water filters along with 100 solar lights. Some of the work included some maintenance on filters installed last year in Batey 50. The installations accomplished on this trip resulted in all the homes in Batey 50 having water filters. Dick Giles reports that in the seven years the 3H project has focused on the Dominican Republic, the team has installed 435 Bio Sand filters, 350 Kohler filters, and provided 400 solar lights. Carolyn and Ricardo have been instrumental participants in this project both with funding and active labor.
Prior to this trip, the 3H team had worked with the Good Samaritan Hospital, but this year worked on their own. While the primary focus of the project was installing water filters and solar lights, the team also purchased a large quantity of school supplies to assist the teachers in the local school of 80 to 100 kids.
The Water Team.
Filter use training.
Team members meet with residents.
David Small shared the story of a heart-wrenching encounter the group experienced with a woman who approached David and asked him, in English, to read her letter. “It was a gut punch,” David recalled. “We don’t know how she ended up in Batey 50, but she’d fled from an abusive husband and desperately needed help.” The team chipped in and bought her a cot, table and chairs, sleep set, all that would fit into her six by six-foot home, and food. “She was so grateful,” said David. “You would have thought we’d saved her life.”
David Small has written a District Grant application to support a water project next year to install a large filter in a church in Guaymate for residents in that community. The team is actively recruiting new members. If interested, talk with Erik, Dick, or David.
The team acts to help a woman in need.
Other News:
David Small opened our April 10 meeting of thirty-six participants with a moment of reflection sharing the Top 10 Coronavirus one-liners he found on the internet.
David Putnam shared that he brought Loretta Rowe home from Brigham and Women’s Hospital Thursday night. She does have someone helping her but remains weak. She sends her greetings and looks forward to cards and emails.
President Amy announced that the Youth Services Awards will be revived, and plans are underway to have the recipients join the meeting to receive their honors.
Megan Peabody reported that the Lyseth Reading Program will be adapted to the COVID-19 situation by having participants videotape their story reading and the teachers will share these during their regular online classes. The school will provide a list of books and Megan will forward the list to volunteers. If you would like to participate and did not have a chance to register during the meeting, please email Megan.
Amy shared some of the efforts being made by other clubs during the pandemic, noting that these range from delivering groceries, providing hand-sanitizers and face masks, and Zoom storytelling. The Preble Street agency needs face masks.
Amy announced that the RYLA Camp program will not happen this Spring but may shift to the Fall. A decision will be made next week. In the meantime, the funds budgeted for RYLA camp scholarships will remained earmarked for this purpose.
Gracie Johnston will convene the Community Services Committee next week to determine our response.
The Clarion Hotel has announced that it is making 50 rooms available for healthcare workers who need a place to stay.
Linda and past-president Don Zillman made a $1.3 million gift to the University of Maine Museum of Art, which will now be known as the Linda G. and Donald N. Zillman Art Museum. The story is here.
Club Continues Virtual Meetings
(Email Elise for details)
Friday, April 17:
Amy Chipman, John Curran, Rob Chatfield share their trip to India.
