IBEW NECA 665 Supports Life-Changing Medical Mission

IBEW NECA 665 is proud to support meaningful work beyond our local communities through donations from our Labor-Management Committee Fund to the Pons Medical Mission. This support helped power medical missions to the Dominican Republic, where access to health care remains extremely limited in many economically depressed regions.

The Pons Medical Mission provides critical services including surgeries, medical clinics, dental care, prosthetics, and vision treatment. None of that work is possible without safe, reliable electrical systems. Since 2013, IBEW electrician Patrick Sprunger has volunteered with the mission, contributing both his time and his trade skills in environments where basic infrastructure often falls short.

Challenges can include minimal lighting in treatment rooms, no air conditioning in surgical spaces, frequent power outages, and extremely primitive wiring. Electrical systems often need to be adapted on the fly to safely power medical equipment and distribute electricity where it's needed most. As the mission has moved between hospitals over the years, the level of electrical service has varied widely, underscoring how essential skilled electrical work is to delivering safe medical care.

In 2024, the mission operated out of Dr. Alberto Gautreaux Hospital in Sánchez, located on the southwestern part of the Samaná Peninsula. While the hospital lacked running water, it had recently been remodeled and had reliable electrical service. That stability allowed Patrick to shift much of his focus from emergency electrical fixes to direct support in the surgical department, helping move patients from pre-op to surgery and into post-op recovery, assisting with instrument cleaning, and supporting clinical operations wherever needed.

During that single week, the volunteer team served 337 clinic patients with a staff that included two board-certified emergency physicians and a nurse practitioner. Surgeons treated 19 patients for less emergent procedures, including removal of growths and minor repairs. A dental team provided care to 60 patients, extracting 74 teeth. An ophthalmologist treated 158 patients and performed two surgeries. A gynecologist treated 46 patients and performed a C-section. The prosthetics team evaluated 42 patients and provided 12 new prosthetic limbs.

Every member of the mission donates their time and pays their own airfare and lodging, ensuring that donations go directly toward care. Funds support essential expenses such as transportation to and from the hospital, medications and medical supplies, laboratory testing, and community outreach to ensure residents know when services are available.

The team returned to Sánchez in October 2025 and plans to continue serving even more patients in future missions. IBEW NECA 665 is proud to support this work and members like Patrick who use their skills to make a difference at home and abroad.