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2008 Planned
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WATER, WATER , EVERYWHERE, BUT NER A DROP TO DRINK

Rhode Island Hospital Makes Significant Donation To Good Sam

Thanks to the generosity of Rhode Island Hospital, and the diligent work of a group of doctors from Rhode Island that have been pursuing the opportunity, Good Sam is on the cusp of taking a giant step forward in providing health care to the La Romana community.  A GE CT scanner is awaiting installation at the hospital. 

For the past several months construction teams from Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and the mid west have been preparing the new home for RIH’s gift..

Preparing the scanners new home was no easy task.  First we needed to carve space out of the Radiology department.  This was done but relocating  the x-ray and mammography units and rebuilding the walls and refinishing the floor.

The ‘pad’ for the CT unit was constructed by removing the existing floor and chiseling through 24 inches of coral.  Then a net  of re-bar had to be installed and the 8’ by 6’ by 24” hole was filled with cement.  With the pad completed work on the rest of Radiology could be completed.

The hurdle  that faces us now is providing the equipment with the reliable power source necessary to operate the scanner without causing damage to it’s delicate electronics.  The solution to this phase continues to elude us due to the high cost of the electrical components necessary.

To get the scanner from Rhode Island to Good Sam  required raising $2,900.  These funds came through the donations of several Rhode Island churches, individuals, and businesses.  The hospital continues  to be blessed with the faithful support it has received over the years.

These words, penned by Samuel Taylor Coleridge when describing the plight of the ‘Ancient Mariner’ aptly describe the situation in the bateys.  For years now our medical teams have been administering medicine to rid the children of parasites.  A treatment that is short term at best but provides a level of safety for a short time.
Hopefully we can see the light at the end of the tunnel.  Four years ago studies were conducted testing the water quality in many of he bateys. These studies were used to help identify the need for a water filtration program and justify a partnership with Rotary International.  Beginning in 2003 the biosand filter program began. 
Rotaries from Maine, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Kansas are participating with  the two Rotary clubs in La Romana.  This partnership, fueled by short term mission teams are now building as many as 40 filters a week.  These filters are then brought to the batey and set up for each family.
The filter has no moving parts, requires almost no maintenance and provides drinking water as clean as what comes from the tap in your kitchen.
This project is accompanied by an education program to teach batey families the benefits of using the filter as well as a tracking program to judge the effectiveness of the program.
The filters cost about $50.00US to manufacture and you can help by sending a tax free donation to GSMC, 800-126 Main Street, Holden MA.  Just write ‘Biosand’ on the memo line of your check.