Volunteering in the Dominican Republic
10/26/2009 12:00:00 PM | Athletics
October 26, 2009 - Volunteering in the Dominican Republic
By Jeff Friedman, Jaeger Civic Intern
This summer, Megan Bunnell, class of 2013 on the Women's Crew team, went down to a small part of the Dominican Republic, called Bani, where her mother and other doctors from Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston are involved in a project called “Infante Sano.” While Megan was down there, she went with the nurses to visit households, in addition to helping to arrange power point presentations that were given to local doctors. She also attended some of the town “charlas,” meetings during which members of the community discuss medical issues that they may be having or that they have seen others having. The “charlas” promote community awareness on health issues and provide a great forum for which doctors and nurses can share ideas. The overall goal of “Infante Sano” is to lower the maternal mortality rate by educating doctors about protocol that is common in the United States. For example, the use of antibiotics as preventative medicine rather than a cure is a topic that was discussed among doctors.
Megan was able to really learn how the American culture and medical field is so far advanced of that within the Dominican Republic. Since Megan was little, she says that “my parents stressed the importance of not just helping others but also getting to really know people in other cultures.” Megan's experience this summer certainly allowed her to immerse herself in the Dominican Republic's culture. Megan also added that when her family travels, they try to “stay off the beaten path.” In reflecting on her experience in the Dominican Republic, Megan said that “it has been unbelievably interesting to get to know people and their families in the Dominican.” She further added, “I sometimes wonder if my presence down there really makes a difference, because I am only 18 so my participation in the medical aspects is somewhat limited, but what I have realized is that just being down there and meeting people helps them to realize that someone cares about their well-being.”
Megan is looking forward to continuing to go back to the Dominican Republic and help care for natives in the Dominican Republic.
