Partners in Service - Clinic in the La Pasquala, Dominican Republic

Partners in Service

Clinic in the Dominican Republic

Rotary International's philosophy of "service above self" was very evident in the recent cooperative effort of the Rochester Rotary Club, District 6380, Pennsylvania Districts 7390 and 7330, and the Dominican Republic District 4060 as they joined efforts with the Peace Corps and the Dominican Republic health services to build a rural community clinic in La Pasquala, Dominican Republic.

The catalyst for this project was Peace Corps volunteer Linda Alley from Hershey, Pennsylvania, whose father, Albert Alley, M.D., is past governor of District 7390. Dr. Alley, an opthamologist, is co-founder of a philanthropic organization known as World Blindness Outreach. This group is instrumental in sending surgical teams to third world countries to conduct eye clinics designed to alleviate blindness through cataract surgery. This group most often works with Rotary International in establishing eye camps worldwide. The cooperative Rotary districts mentioned above funded the building of the $10,000.00 La Pasquala Clinic erected in the summer of 1995 and dedicated on November 19, 1995.

Rochester Rotarian William Ebinger, D.V.M., co-founder of World Blindness Outreach, and fellow Rotarian Wes Koch were able to travel to the Dominican Republic for the dedication of the clinic A medical mission was planned to coincide with the clinic opening. A team of physicians, nurses, and lay people was able to provide physical exams for 260 villagers as well as performing 48 cataract surgeries.

To perpetuate the operation of the new clinic, the Dominican government rotates medical doctors through the area on a two-year residency. The combined efforts of Rotary International, the Peace Corps, and World Blindness Outreach were able to accomplish common goals as "partners in service."

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By AGUNPOPO VICTOR (216.139.176.82) on Monday, January 05, 2004 - 3:40 am: Edit Post

I WANT AN OPTHAMOLOGIST ADVICE AND POSSIBLY ASSISTANCE ON VIRAL INFECTIONS SINCE 1999.