As part of the Belize Mission Project and Christian Dentistry Association, a medical team from Colorado and Florida, USA, offered “Hearing Solutions” to the general public on Monday, October 31st. Many community members headed to the Dr. Otto Rodriguez San Pedro Polyclinic II to take advantage of free hearing services, including hearing tests, wax removal, hearing aid fittings and a variety of hearing aids.
The team leaders of this service were Dr. Phil Bangle, Medical Director; Buddy Jewell, Hearing Instrument Specialist; Christine Jewell, Audiologist; Dr. Linda Cox, Audiologist; and volunteers Ron Cox and Jean Bedell.
After receiving a slip, patients were called into a room for a general checkup. Doing the examinations was Audiologist Cox, who inserted two different ear utensils into the patient’s ears to determine whether or not the ear canal and drum are normal. A set of headphones was then placed on the ears to detect hearing frequencies in both ears. Afterwards, Buddy Jewell cleaned the ears of any wax, which he said could improve the hearing quality of a person.
According to Cox, hearing health is very important, especially in children who are in the process of learning to use their five senses. “Hearing is an important tool that you need daily. Hearing loss usually comes with older age, but if you detect hearing problems earlier, it is best to get your ears checked out to prevent major hearing loss or damage,” said Cox.
The Belize Mission Project was founded by Dr. Frank Whipps. The group, which travels to Belize annually, typically consists of 40-50 dentists, audiologists, physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, dental hygienists and assistants, nurses, dental technicians, and general helpers, sees more than 2,000 patients throughout the country.
The team will be departing to return to the United States on Sunday, November 6th, and has plans to return to La Isla Bonita next year. We thank them for their generous services rendered.
