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| The floating Docs Panga arrives at the village |
Floating Doctors
August 23, 2012
Portobelo, Panama
Once in a great while, an extraordinary human being comes along and changes lives. I grew up with tales of Dr. Albert Schweitzer. Later, Mother Theresa’s compassion inspired generations world-wide. And, during our travels, it is Dr. Ben LaBrotwho struck a high note in our search for a mission.
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| Dr Ben at work (c FD) |
In the jungles and swamps of Bocas del Toro, Panama, Dr. Ben and his volunteer team of Floating Doctors provide medical care to thousands of underserved locals. Theirs is an organization that runs like clockwork on a shoestring, thanks to the management genius of Sky LaBrot, Dr. Ben’s little sister. It’s no small feat to coordinate dozens of volunteers who get deployed by small boat to mobile clinics while carrying medical equipment and medication. Every day is a challenge.
The Floating Doctors Mission is to reduce the present and future burden of disease in the developing world, and to promote improvements in health care delivery worldwide. Our Goals Include: · Providing free acute and preventative health care services and delivering donated medical supplies to isolated areas. · Reducing child and maternal mortality through food safety/prenatal education, nutritional counseling and clean water solutions. · Studying and documenting local systems of health care delivery and identifying what progress have been made, what challenges remain, and what solutions exist to improve health care delivery worldwide. · Using the latest communications technologies to bring specialist medical knowledge to the developing world, and to share our experiences with the global community and promote cooperation in resolving world health care issues |
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| In Laguna Azul: the team going to work |
Every morning, after a breakfast prepared by the volunteer cook on board the Floating Doctors’ home, a conspicuous red sailboat moored at the Bocas del Toro marina, a group of health care providers boards the Floating Docs “panga” and head towards an island: Isla Popa, Laguna Azul, Laguna Chiriqui or inland, high into the mountains. The panga is chock-full with boxes of medicine, portable medical equipment (ultrasound, EKG machine), and jerrycans of fuel.
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| JP has enjoyed his days with the Floating Docs |
At the mobile clinic, little more than a thatch roof with a few benches and tables, patients wait to be seen. The docs and nurses get involved in treating acute conditions: lacerations, cuts, infections, wound care, a host of tropical diseases, dehydration, worms, and anything the locals bring to them.
At times, they have to go into the jungle to tend to a cut foot or amputated toe.
Recently, they visited a retirement home where no physician had provided care for a year. The dismal state of the resident was appalling. Yet, the Docs’ formidable effort gave the elderly residents something to smile about.
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| El Asylo (c Floating Doctors) |
Non-medical volunteers keep track of data or just provide cheerful companionship to the sick and elderly.
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| El Asylo (c Floating Doctors) |
Meanwhile, at the boat, a volunteer crew takes care of boat maintenance (engine and electronics problems are constant on a boat) while the cook/caretaker plans and prepare meals for everybody else.
Why do they do it?
Sometimes, things do not turn out as planned, but the Docs always find a way to turn things around. Our trip with them to Laguna Azul was one of these occasions, where a treatment clinic turned into an HIV prevention forum.
Such a mission does not exist on adrenaline and compassion alone. As frugal as they are, the Floating Doctors need support. Will you endorse them? VISIT THEIR PAGE ...
This is what they need:
- Subscriptions: as low as $5/month
- Cash Donations
- Medical Equipment and supplies
- Toothbrushes, Sunglasses, Vision glasses
- Sponsorship
- Volunteers: not only physicians and nurses, but also administrators, dietitians, boat maintenance workers.
Visit their web page today and contribute to their cause. This is the ONLY cause we have supported in our travels, but we are so impressed with their work, dedication, generosity and thrift of operation that we wholeheartedly support them.
Dr. Ben, you are impressive and inspiring. Thank you! Hoping to be back to Bocas or hosting you Pacific Side…
Until then…
dominomarie
