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Joined: Oct 1999
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Marty Offline OP
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Dermatology, Dental and General Medical services

A team of 11 medical professionals and teenage volunteers were on San Pedro Town providing free dermatology, dental and general medical services at the Otto Rodriguez PolyClinic II as part of the Partners of Belize with team leader Dr. John Kirby. The team from Ohio, USA arrived in the country on Thursday July 26th and worked on Friday from 1PM - 5PM, Saturday 8AM to Noon, and on Monday and Tuesday from 8AM through 5PM, offering their services free of cost to the entire public of Ambergris Caye.

Working in Dental, the team of six was led by Dr. Gordon Womack, children's specialist from Dayton Ohio. His team included dental technicians; Maureen Ryan and Michelle Brooks; dental assistant Michelle Johnson; office manager Leryn Fuller and assistant office manager Nicky Thomas. By Tuesday afternoon, the team had seen over 130 patients and offered various services including cleaning, treatment, fillings and extractions among other dental services.

Other specialists included Dr. Wayne Bauman, dermatologist from Cincinnati Ohio; Dr. Magda Kerschner, pain specialist doctor of anesthesiology also from Cincinnati, where she has a pain clinic for those with chronic pain issues.

The team brought with them medications, vitamins, tooth pastes, tooth brushes and other medical supplies which were issued to patients with the surplus being donated to the Otto Rodriguez PolyClinic II. Speaking of his first working trip to the island, Dr. Womack stated, "We are here to take care of any needs that the community has from a dental standpoint. We've been doing a lot of cleanings, extracting teeth and fillings. We loved our visit here on the island. Once the work is done, I plan on taking the team snorkeling and fishing so that we can get a chance to enjoy what the island has to offer."

Click here to read the rest of the article and see more photos in the San Pedro Sun


Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 168
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Thank you so much for your service to our future home. I hope you will consider returning next year.

Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,733
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Nice service for Ambergris Caye. Just think of the need in some of the villages on the mainland that have no doctors or dentists. Of course the snorkeling and fishing is limited there also.

Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 35
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do they partner with anyone locally (the clinic?) so that if there is an aftercare problem (with extractions etc) there is somewhere for people to get help after they leave?

Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 842
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The other question is do they take business from local practitioners who invest tons of money in their education and committ to living in Belize? It is fine balance between volunteering and diverting

Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 462
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Probably plenty of business to go around, with dental anyway!!

Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,446
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We have been assisting a dental team for the last few years who have been coming to the Toledo district for over 15 years now from the Slidell, Louisiana area called, Dos Amigos. They go to the far villages where no one else goes. These are some dedicated men and women to come year after year. There is a huge need and this team does extractions as well because the need is so great. My hat off to all these folks who come and volunteer to help those who cannot help themselves. Keep up the good work!!

Last edited by dabunk; 08/07/12 01:44 PM.
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,733
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That is great. My compliments to those doing that kind of work. It would be nice if the ones coming to Isla Bonita would also take the time to do some work in other areas. Donating time in places that have no doctors or dentists deserves more praise, IMO, than just visiting the most popular tourist destination and enjoying what it has to offer.

Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 37
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Warren, you reallly have no clue, do you. As part of the group of physicians and dentist ( approx, 40 people ) that come down every October for the last 15+ years, let me assure you it is not for a "tax-free vacation". While we're there for only one week, the personal cost to each is a couple of thousand dollars. For this we work 6 of the 7 days and get 1 day off to enjoy the island. Usually that day is spent at one of the schools trying to educate the students and teachers. While we have clinics on Ambergris and Caye Caulker, we have groups thast travel to the mainland and visit the remote villages including Valley of Peace, Orange walk area and down south. We've been coming to Ambergris since before there was a full-time dentist here. The reason we base out of this "tourist destination" is it has the only facilities to handle our group so that we may all stay together for logistics. Tropic Air is kind enough to give us a break on tickets (all at our own expense) so that we can quickly get to all parts of the country. Part of our group even stayed for hurricane Mitch so we might be able to help the Belize health system if there was a major catastrophy. So thats what us free vacationers do. How bout you?

Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,018
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Originally Posted by bywarren
That is great. My compliments to those doing that kind of work. It would be nice if the ones coming to Isla Bonita would also take the time to do some work in other areas. Donating time in places that have no doctors or dentists deserves more praise, IMO, than just visiting the most popular tourist destination and enjoying what it has to offer.

There are so many groups of volanteers that come to Belize and spend perhapts more time on the mainland then on any of the Cayes.......wake up!!


I'm happier than a pig in s__t...a foot on the sand...and a Belikin in my hand!
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