An international program at Portland Rotary is helping folks in the Dominican Republic (DR). The club’s 3H program stands for Hearing, H20 and Hands. There’s medical services offered for people in the DR who are hard of hearing, filters are installed to provide clean water and amputees are fitted with prosthetic limbs. The hands and arms are created with a 3D printer in Dean Rock’s Cumberland basement. He joined the 3H program’s efforts in 2016.
(Photo L-R: Dean Rock and 1st Vice President John Curran.)
Hundreds of prosthetics have been fitted during the 19 trips the 3H program has taken to the DR. The look and function of the limbs, that are provided at no charge, have changed a lot over time. Dean spends around $50 dollars in materials for each limb, but he expects nothing in return. It’s charity work he chooses to be a part of because of the impact it has on others. His next ambition will be to teach 3D printing.
The Club’s next 3H trip to the Dominican Republic is scheduled for January 2018. Dean Rock has made around a dozen prosthetic limbs to take during that trip.
For more information on Portland Rotary’s efforts and involvement in the Dominican Republic, contact Roger Fagan at: drrogerfagan@gmail.com or the Club's First Vice President John Curran at: curraj@mmc.org
For more information on the making of the 3D limbs and Dean Rock, go to: wcsh6.com/news/local/207/cumberland-man-3d-prints-prosthetic-limbs-for-amputees-1/495231735