| Waves of Health provide medical care to the Dominican Republic |
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| Monday, 31 October 2011 09:28 |
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The Dominican Surfing Federation will assist the group the Waves of Health, a nonprofit organization founded by surfing physicians dedicated to supporting community health in underserved regions around the world, in providing free medical care to the communities of Dajabón and Cabarete, Dominican Republic October 29 – November 4, 2011. The Waves of Health was founded in 2007 by American physicians and began providing modern medical services to underprivileged communities in the Dominican Republic by bringing full medical, surgical, and pharmaceutical services to the Country. The group completes bi-yearly missions, and on average treats approximately twelve hundred patients per trip, with the goal of treating 2,000 patients on this mission. This is the first mission for the town of Cabarete on the North Coast and plans are in development for future missions on the South coast of the Island. Waves of Health has a focus on surfers’ health and sports medicine, and shares goals with the Surfers’ Medical Association (SMA) and other surf related nonprofit organizations. The group contributes medical support to athletes and spectators during professional surfing events, such as the recent Quiksilver Pro in New York and Volcom Pipeline Pro in Hawaii. FEDOSURF is grateful for the tremendous contribution that Waves of Health has provided to the Dominican Republic, and is committed to working together with them in solidarity for ongoing and future missions. FEDOSURF athletes will attend both missions in Dajabon and Cabarete as volunteers, assisting as needed. Jesmarín Puente, National Director of Fedosurf worked closely with members of Waves of Health in the coordination and planning of this first medical mission in the village of Islabon in Cabarete. Councilor Claritza Ruiz and the neighborhood union were instrumental in facilitating the logistics of the mission, with approval of the Mayor Mr. Gabriel Canoa Mora. Waves of Health will provide free medical service to an estimated 100 hundred patients in Islabon, with plans to return for a larger-scale mission within a year. In Dajabon, The Waves of Health will continue a regional study of diabetes, and with the help of local Peace Corp volunteers, discuss cholera prevention, recognition and treatment. The Waves of Health will continue to deliver outstanding medical care with team members specializing in cardiology, infectious and tropical diseases, pulmonology, rheumatology, emergency and general medicine, pediatrics, dermatology, oncology, and radiology. They will continue to offer free medications for every patient seen and will continue their support for regional nursing homes.
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