New Dominican Medical Ministry
Comments Nov 23, 2011 | Posted by Greenville Grace in Missions, Outreach
New Ministry in the Dominican RepublicManos Limpio, Corazon Puro. (Clean Hands, Pure Heart.)
It is with great joy that Anna and I announce to you the formation and launching of a new aspect of Score’s medical ministry here in the Dominican Republic.
All hospitals world wide experience infection rates due to microorganisms that exist inside the hospitals. Patients enter the health care facility and contact these microbes and then are even sicker than when they entered, these are called nosicomial infections.
Given the lack of resources in personnel and finances that exist in the public health care system in the DR, despite the best efforts of the staff, infections are a continuing problem, as the are in the US. The amount of microorganisms that are being passed around from staff to patients, patient to patient, and patient to staff needs to be reduced in order to improve the overall health care in the country.
By God’s grace we are launching a new medical ministry called: Manos Limpio, Corazon Puro. English: Clean hands, pure heart. This is taken from Psalm 24.
Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. – Psalm 24:3-4
Phase One
We have organized a volunteer force, utilizing local San Pedro area churches, to enter the Antonio Musa Public Health Hospital in San Pedro to come along side the staff there and clean the hospital ona weekly basis. Elsie, Dr. Tolentino, and myself presented the new ministry recently and it was accepted enthusiastically and completely by all of the administration and department heads. Score medical is providing the supervision and the churches are supplying the staffing to simply clean the floors, chairs, beds, equipment, walls, (all the normal stuff patients and families contact) on a weekly basis. We will be utilizing disinfectants and good ole soap and water in order to reduce the microorganism load and the resultant infections that occurs in this facility. We all remember the ‘candy stripers’ utilized in many of our hospitals, our volunteers will wear a covering smock that Anna is making to identify them with the phrase: “Manos limpio (on one side) Corazon puro (on the other side).
American teams can help by bringing disposable supplies like dishwashing gloves (small, medium, and large)(we’re going to need a lot of these), scrub brushes (plastic with a handle for scrubbing beds, lots), toilet brushes, Mister Clean………., new empty spray bottles (20-24 oz size), a few putty knives, small fiberous dish scrubers, etc. We also need protective medical eye glasses to use while spraying, as well as, disposible masks for spraying. Cleaning cloths for wiping are needed also (lots of these also). We can also use anticeptic wipes to clean surfaces (in bulk containers, not individually wrapped).
We will need a half dozen or so brand new plastic garden sprayers to spray the walls and beds with as well.
With a short training class just before, US teams will be allowed to participate in the new ministry of cleaning in the hospital as well. The new ministry will involve no direct patient care, only cleaning, however spiritual ministry is part of the process.
The projected start date for Phase One is spring of 2012.
Phase Two
Each Dominican church will provide a ‘spiritual encourager’-chaplain in our terminology. Phase two will begin at the same time as phase one. We expect to have dozens of cleaning volunteers and multiple chapains in this hospital on a weekly basis involving dozens of churches.
We expect to begin in the spring of 2012. We need the time between now and then to get organized, train the volunteers, and gather the supplies.
Phase Three
Phase three involves hand washing supplies, as that continues to be an issue in the DR, US, and around the world. We hope to finalize these plans next year with implementation in 2013. Although, MUSA personnel requested we begin this one first!! It’s that big a problem. This will involve the installation of antiseptic dispensers in all patient care areas of the hospital and then keeping them refilled on a weekly basis.
Phase Four
Phase four will involve replacing bed mattresses with new ones and will begin at the same time as phase three or shortly after. MUSA again requested we begin this immediately as well!
This entire plan was enthusiastically endorsed by the staff and leadership of the hospital. MUSA has a service area of over 2 million people and is the largest hospital on the eastern side of the island. They are eager for us to begin.
Elsie Hodge, our secretary and cleaning person, is my assistant in this new ministry and when fully operational will be financed, run, and staffed by all Dominicans.
There will be an initial financial outlay that is not covered by the Dominican Churches and we ask that you pray about this as well. There are many new pieces of equipment and initial supplies, etc.
Please pray for this new ministry as the state of the health care here is very poor, despite the efforts of the Dominican hospital staff. We want to come along side them, not in a critical manner, but in Christian love and service and improve the health care of the country. The Dominican volunteers will be improving their own health care by reducing the infections in a hospital they themselves will be using. They will also serve as an example of Christian love for others who are hurting. This will also provide an additional ministry outlet for many individuals in the churches.
The amount of organization required by us is immense (as the number of volunteers could as many as a hundred!) and time consuming, please pray that our Lord will by glorified thru this new gospel effort.
Bob and Anna
Bob Nilsen is Director of Medical Evangelism at SCORE International, Juan Dolio, Dominican Republic.
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