On the Road with Rotary

Accompanied by Dr. Ben LaBrot and Sky LaBrot from the Floating Doctors (who, as part of their year-long medical mission voyage have staffed a Clinic in Oakridge 3 days a week since their arrival earlier this year), volunteers James and John from Clinica Esperanza, and Traci (a native of Roatan who has also volunteered at the Oakridge Clinic) Donna headed to the Orphanage where the group would provide well-child checkups. Rotary Club of Roatan PR Chairman Ana Svoboda facilitated the visit and was on hand to assist the team if needed and to help entertain the children while they waited for their exams.

Working in teams of two so that ample time could be devoted to each child, medical checkups were performed and vitamins and toothbrushes were provided to each student. The children shared stories of their day-to-day lives at the Orphanage, and how they came to be residents of the facility. Many placements came about as a result of extreme poverty where the family could no longer provide for their child.

There was an abundance of books available for the children to read, as well as TV and playground equipment to occupy their time. The children are open, affectionate and like all of us, sometimes just in need of a caring touch, a kind word or a smile...

In a group facility, one-on-one attention is often hard to provide. On this one day, the children basked in the individual attention provided by the team. Donna hopes that her first visit to the Orphanage will not be her last and that after the departure of the Floating Doctors, a volunteer team could be put together to visit the Orphanage on a routine basis to provide both medical care and one-on-one mentoring time.