The Dominican Surfing Federation (FEDOSURF) will assist the group the Waves of Health, a nonprofit organization founded by surfing physicians dedicated to supporting community health in underserved regions around the world, in providing free medical care to the communities of Dajabón and Cabarete, Dominican Republic October 29 – November 4, 2011.
The Waves of Health was founded in 2007 by American physicians and began providing modern medical services to underprivileged communities in the Dominican Republic by bringing full medical, surgical, and pharmaceutical services to the Country. The group completes bi-yearly missions, and on average treats approximately twelve hundred patients per trip, with the goal of treating 2,000 patients on this mission. This is the first mission for the town of Cabarete on the North Coast and plans are in development for future missions on the South coast of the Island.
Waves of Health has a focus on surfers’ health and sports medicine, and shares goals with the Surfers’ Medical Association (SMA) and other surf related nonprofit organizations. The group contributes medical support to athletes and spectators during professional surfing events, such as the recent Quiksilver Pro in New York and Volcom Pipeline Pro in Hawaii. FEDOSURF is grateful for the tremendous contribution that Waves of Health has provided to the Dominican Republic, and is committed to working together with them in solidarity for ongoing and future missions.
FEDOSURF athletes will attend both missions in Dajabon and Cabarete as volunteers, assisting as needed. Jesmarín Puente, National Director of Fedosurf worked closely with members of Waves of Health in the coordination and planning of this first medical mission in the village of Islabon in Cabarete. Councilor Claritza Ruiz and the neighborhood union were instrumental in facilitating the logistics of the mission, with approval of the Mayor Mr. Gabriel Canoa Mora. Waves of Health will provide free medical service to an estimated 100 hundred patients in Islabon, with plans to return for a larger-scale mission within a year.
In Dajabon, The Waves of Health will continue a regional study of diabetes, and with the help of local Peace Corp volunteers, discuss cholera prevention, recognition and treatment. The Waves of Health will continue to deliver outstanding medical care with team members specializing in cardiology, infectious and tropical diseases, pulmonology, rheumatology, emergency and general medicine, pediatrics, dermatology, oncology, and radiology. They will continue to offer free medications for every patient seen and will continue their support for regional nursing homes.
The LIG Global Foundation is the new surgical arm of Waves of Health, delivering humanitarian relief to people in great need around the world by bringing together dedicated medical and non-medical volunteers, supplies and technology. LIG Global will base operations out of the Hospital Principal in Dajabon, with 200 planned surgeries in 4 days. LIG will be performing a wide range of surgical interventions with capabilities for both local and general anesthesia, assisted by local staff and physicians. They will serve the local population by offering procedures in plastic and reconstructive surgeries, obstetrics and gynecology surgeries, and general and abdominal surgeries. Pre-operative evaluations for potential patients will begin on Sunday morning, October 30th, at the Hospital Principal in Dajabon. They will also be identifying potential candidates for operations when the group returns to the DR in the Spring of 2012.
For more information regarding the Waves of Health or LIG Global, please visit their website at http://www.thewavesofhealth.org or http://www.ligglobal.org. If you or someone you know may benefit from the wide range of services offered by the Waves of Health or LIG Global, please contact Dr. Jeremy Pinyard, drjpinyardwoh@gmail.com.
ABOUT FEDOSURF
The Dominican Surfing Federation (FEDOSURF) is the National Governing Body of surfing in the Dominican Republic, and is recognized by the Dominican Olympic Committee, the Ministry of Sports, Physical Education and Recreation, The International Surfing Association (ISA) and the Pan American Surfing Association (PASA). It is a non-profit entity, whose main goal is to support and advance the sport of surfing and high-performance athletes in the Dominican Republic.
http://www.fedosurf.org
http://www.facebook.com/fedosurf
Michelle Parker enters her 5th year as an SGT coach in Argentina. Not much can be said about Michelle that has not been said about an avalanche — she rips down mountains with the force of mother nature and leaves everything in her path destroyed. Michelle Parker, she really is a big deal.
Skylar Holgate rides as much as, if not more than, anyone in the world. His north american season takes him from Silverton, CO to Alaska and feeds right into his South American winter where he teams up with SGT in Bariloche as Head of guiding and snow safety and one fe the best life coaches around.
Chris Coulter has been dominating in every aspect of everything since he was forged out of an untold element, deep from within a secret mountain of fire and magic. If you have ever ridden with or seen Chris ride you know that he takes the gnarliest lines and does the sickest tricks in the middle of his runs. Chris has no fear factor and will go bigger then anyone. His emotions are firmly snitched on his sleeves, which is great for the rest of us because he is one of the most fun people you can ever hang out with. SGT is seriously stoked to have Chris back as a guide/coach for his fourth season as camp badass. Coulter can literally kill a man with his legs as if it were an 60-degree first descent in Alaskan.
Our staff at SGT Argentina is the best in world, and people need to know more about what makes them great. In our first installment of “Who is SGT” we pull down the face mask to talk about toques, living in a trailer, and corndogs. Enjoy.