Greater Voice Project Report
Help from Fellow Rotarians
By Joanne Travers
Jun 21, 2005, 12:29

The Rotary Club of San Pedro de Macoris supported this TBM-DR Matching Grant project with great enthusiasm.  After greeting the U.S. team at the airport upon arrival, Rotarians provided transportation every morning to the school for the deaf and participated in some of the discussions to better understand the educational needs of children.  As well, the much needed generator and gasoline was provided by the club.  A meeting with the director of Hospital Segrado de Corazon in San Pedro took place to discuss the construction of an Audiology Clinic.  Rotarians shared equal interest in helping to set up the room, while also arranged a 2 hour presentation by Rotarian Joanne Travers and her Greater Voice team on Hearing and Hearing Loss.  The workshop was targeted at a group of 45 nurses currently enrolled in the hospital's nursing program, which presently has no training on anatomy of the ear, ear infections, hearing screenings and evaluations, hearing loss and hearing technology.   The program was well received since the hospital is a pediatric and maternity facility.  Newborn hearing screening is on the World Health Organization agenda, and this presentation opened the doors to many future possibilities.
 
Rotarians in San Pedro de Macoris will continue to support the hospital's interest to set up an audiology clinic.  They will also help with security at the school for the deaf by constructing better reinforcements along the windows of the school.   Rotarian Abraham Humphrey, International Programs Chair, and his fellow club members, await customs clearance of a container of materials sent to Santo Domingo by Topsfield, Boxford, Middleton Rotary Club.  They will deliver the 40 plus boxes of supplies, plus rugs, educational and office furnishings, and baseball gear for the children!  Rotarians will also mount donated acoustic panels in each of the four classrooms to help improve reverberation and background noise so that the children wearing hearing aids have a better listening environment for learning.
 
New friendships were made, and communication over the next several months will continue to complete the project.  Rotarian Joanne Travers plans to revisit the school in the fall to learn of progress made.
 
For more information contact Joanne at 978-312-1200.
 


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