Volunteer: Health of Women and Children in the Dominican Republic

Background: Project HOPE has been working in communities throughout the Americas since May 1962, when the SS HOPE first docked in Peru. HOPE's long-term programs have ranged from the development of basic health training programs for mothers, to major infrastructure reform to humanitarian assistance in times of natural disaster. Project HOPE programs are developed in partnership with local counterparts to meet the particular demands of the communities, within local constraints and culture. 

Project HOPE’s Monte Plata and Herrera clinics in the Dominican Republic lead the way with the “5 Star Program,” a Ministry of Health-approved and nationally recognized program developed as an innovative strategy to promote patient awareness and compliance during pregnancy. The HOPE program serves a population of nearly 500,000 (approximately 5% of the country) and focuses on five essential services that pregnant women must know about and receive (tetanus toxoid immunization, HIV/AIDS/STI testing, laboratory tests (including blood, urine, sonogram, dental exam), over the course of at least five prenatal examinations and a post-natal visit within seven days of delivery. The pregnant mother is awarded a star for each of these key services, noted in her patient chart. After acquiring all five stars, she is classified as a VIP (Very Important Person) and recognized publicly by the community. The 5 Star Program can be summarized as being an inexpensive way to improve care quality that is easy to monitor; an excellent way to educate pregnant women, mothers and the community at-large on a vitally important subject; and an effective means to empower and motivate mothers to serve as role models for others.
Monte Plata first opened in August 2003 and is now one of the most respected women’s and children’s health clinics in the country. It offers a variety of services, from obstetric and gynecological consultation, ultrasound, lab, dental, HIV/AIDS testing and counseling, to immunizations. The rural clinic averages around 13,000 patients per year and over 90,000 clinic visits. The clinic is complemented with a staff of 31 dedicated, highly skilled Dominican providers.


Mission: Project HOPE is looking to deploy maternal child health clinical volunteers to support the Project HOPE Monte Plata and Herrera clinics.

Needs and Requirements: Project HOPE is looking for the following volunteers:
• OB-GYNs

• Family Practice Physicians

• Pediatricians

• GP/Pediatric/Internal Medicine physician residents

• Family or Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (and NP students with a current RN license)

• Registered Nurses, with a focus on pediatrics, community health, counseling and education

• MPH or MPH students

• Social workers

• Logisticians

• IT experts and administrators

Funded Global Health Volunteer Service Corps Program: We are also accepting applications for volunteers interested in volunteering for longer periods (6 months or longer) to provide continuity in volunteer operations over the course of the deployment; to work in technical areas within the program; to assist the program with identifying new opportunities for growth and development; to help measure impacts and effectiveness; and to act as the lead agent for managing and overseeing volunteer team deployments throughout the year. This volunteer should have a pediatric background with a focus in public health. If interested in this opportunity, please go to the Global Health Volunteer Service Corps link and apply for the Dominican Republic!

General Scope of Work: Once a team is established, specific goals and objectives will be developed to meet the needs of the clinic and communities while engaging the specific skills of the volunteer team. Opportunities during this team deployment range from:

• Working with the community outreach program to help train community volunteers in the 5 Star Strategy.

• Working with the Pre and Post Natal Program to assist and follow-up with pregnant women in the program and provide OB consultation.

• Working with the AIEPI (IMCI) Strategy to provide support to children under-5 years of age.

• Working with Community Health Program to develop educational activities, assist with home visits, and conduct monitoring in support of the 5 Star Strategy. Also help to deliver key health messages for the Community Health Program, the waiting room, and home visits.

• Providing HIV/AIDS community counseling, education, and stigma reduction assistance.

• Assisting the clinic with organizing patient files and helping in the clinics’ waiting areas.

• Working in clinic management, administration, accounting, information systems, and monitoring/evaluation of programs.

• Helping manage the medical supply inventory and warehouse.


Additional Information:

1) Spanish fluency is required.

2) All positions will have an immediate supervisor and will ultimately report to the Project HOPE DR Country Director, Ms. Teresa Narvaez.

3) Each volunteer team will be assigned a previous volunteer as a Mentor. Current Mentor is Ms. Sarah Hazard, MPH. Her contact will be given to the team, once applied and approved.

Visa Requirement: NO

Malaria Prophylaxis Requirement: YES

Vaccine Recommendations: MMR, DPT, Polio, Hep A, Hep B, and Typhoid

Expenses:
1) The volunteer must cover the cost of the international airfare.

2) The volunteer will be responsible for room and board. Room and board will be provided by the Monte Plata clinic at a cost of approximately $50 USD/day. Overflow additional housing will be at the Hotel Dominican Fiesta, in Santo Domingo, for $75/day, and we would look to reduce cost by doubling up volunteers at this location.

3) The volunteer is responsible for obtaining temporary traveler’s insurance.

4) Airport transfers to/from airport and Monte Plata will be provided by the clinic at no cost to the volunteer.

5) The clinic will provide office space, with Internet connectivity, and printing capability.

6) Project HOPE will provide the standard HOPE uniform, reusable name tag, medical malpractice insurance, worker’s compensation, and evacuation insurance.

Further information on the program will be provided upon request.

Apply now