This post features student writing.
Hola! Soy Emma. Yesterday, Erin, Emily, Carla, our leader Jaimie, and I visited the local clinic in La Guazara to learn about medicine and, the health care system in the Dominican Republic; both in rural and urban areas. We got the chance to meet with one of the current resident doctors, Laura, and were given a tour of the clinic, as well as an in-depth discussion about local medicine. Laura went to the university in Santo Domingo and is now living at the clinic for a year until she finishes her residency and can become a certified surgeon. This experience was eye-opening because of the drastic differences we noticed between medicine and sanitation in the U.S. and the D.R. The surgery room consisted of a cot with a curtain around it, and a single glass cabinet to hold medicine and instruments. The most advanced surgery done at the clinic is stitches. Although the clinic was not unsanitary, there did not seem to be as much signage, modern equipment and technology that you would normally see in the United States. We also learned that because this is a free clinic, it is government funded and once a month the clinic receives the medicine and supplies it needs.
When we discussed with Laura the types of injuries and sicknesses they typically encounter, we learned that headaches from a hangover was the most common type of condition they treat. Hypertension and small accidents involving rowdy children are also common. In the clinic, they are able to prescribe and refill prescription medicine, give stitches, injections and do basic stabilization of more difficult cases but in general, they are not equipped to handle major trauma or other critical system issues. Rather they will stabilize a patient and send them to the nearest hospital in Barahona or if time, to the capital Santo Domingo. However, there is no ambulance service in La Guazara so locals must transport themselves to a hospital.
We also learned a lot about birth control and pregnancy rates in La Guazara. As shown in the infographic below, 22.1% of 15 to 19 year olds will have a child in the D.R., mostly due to a lack of education and poverty. In 2015, the current president of the D.R. signed a law that makes abortion illegal, no matter the circumstance. La Guazara provides free condoms and birth control to all locals.
Learning about Laura’s background and being able to see a different type of medical care in another country was very interesting, and furthered my desire to go into the medical field.
– Emma
