The Dublin-Worthington Rotary Club has been working collaboratively with our Twin Club in Santiago, The Santiago de Los Caballeros Rotary Club, for almost 20 years, in support of the Barrio Lindo Medical/Dental Clinic. The clinic is a government funded first level Primary Care Clinic, serving Barrio Lindo and neighboring Barrios, with a population of approximately 10,000 families.

Government Funding beyond that needed to provide essential staff has been minimal and sporadic. Over the years our two Twin Clubs have served as a source of back-up funding to cover essential services the government was unwilling, unable, or slow in providing. Most notable was a clinic building, now owned by the local Rotary Club for the sole use of the community and the clinic. In total, funding in excess of $100,000 from club funds, private contributions, and both District and RI Grants, have been raised in support of the clinic.

Our most recent project resulted from a recent draught that hit the DR in the middle of the current Pandemic. It threatened to shut down the clinic at a time when it was critically needed by the community. The city had both reduced the water pressure in the system, and gone to rationing where water was only available on certain days. To assure enough water to stay open, the clinic needed to install an auxiliary pump, and roof top storage tank. The cost of these was $589. The local club had no funds available, but one of their members pledged $175, and asked if our club would pick up the remaining $414. The need was immediate if the clinic was to stay open. International Committee Leadership immediately agreed, further agreeing to take cash on deposit with the Santiago club, previously approved for a video, be so work could begin immediately.

Mission Accomplished – Rotary in Action!