Life and Solitude In Easter Island - Hardcover

Verdugo-Binimelis, Dr Dari-O

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1425982271 ISBN 13: 9781425982270

Publisher: Authorhouse, 2007

Synopsis

LIFE AND SOLITUDE IN EASTER ISLAND. The exotic Easter Island: Isla de Pascua as it's known to Chileans, Rapa Nui as it's known to the natives, and Te Pito O Te Henua to their ancestors who erected the mysterious moai statues which placidly stand guard throughout this most isolated island on Earth. Although Easter Island is still a rustic place by current standards, today you'll find running water, electricity, money, plus other amenities, and a growing population of several thousand, most of whom came from the mainland. But a mere 50 years ago, Easter Island had none of these. In 1952, DarĂ­o Verdugo-Binimelis, an idealistic Chilean physician, and his wife, Adriana, pulled up stakes and brought their four young sons to Easter Island for what would become an incredible adventure and educational experience for the family. Appointed by the Chilean Ministry of Health to serve a two-year stint as the island's sole physician, Dr. Verdugo had the responsibility for the health of the island population of about eight hundred, and he also affectionately ministered to the patients isolated in the islands leper colony. Dr. Verdugo has written a lyrical memoir of culture shock melting into affection for the native Pascuenses and their simple, carefree culture. He reflects on the day-to-day struggles amid stunning natural beauty and on strengthened family ties and deep friendships reinforced by the profound isolation of this tiny island sitting by itself in the middle of the vast South Pacific. Life and Solitude in Easter Island adds a unique personal and family perspective to the growing body of Eastern Island literature, and complements the material found in scholarly texts or in tourist guides. This is an updated English edition of the original Spanish-language memoir, Vida y Soledad en Isla de Pascua, published in Chile in 1999.

About this title

About the Author:

Darżo Verdugo-Binimelis was born in Concepciżn, Chile in 1913. He studied medicine at the University of Concepciżn and University of Chile. His early professional years were spent as medical officer in the Chilean Navy, an organization that he has held in the highest regard and remembers affectionately. Subsequently he worked in the hospitals in Viża del Mar and San Borja in Santiago. In late 1952, he was selected to be the resident Physician in Easter Island. He later obtained a degree in Public Health from the University of Gżteborg under the auspices of the Swedish Government. Subsequently he joined the World Health Organization, spending several years in Central America, Indonesia, India, and Egypt.He has been president of the Rotary Clubs of Viża del Mar and Providencia in Chile and he has held leadership positions in the Municipality of Providencia, one of the Metropolitan Areas of Santiago. He also was the chief medical officer at the Superintendence of the Social Security Office in Chile.He is active in several medical and charity organizations (Capacitas Chile and Salvecor, where he was one of the co-founders). He is an enthusiastic supporter of medical doctors' rights and their professional interests within Chile, in his capacity as General Advisor to the Chilean Medical Association (Colegio Mżdico de Chile). Until recently he was a member for many years of the office of ethics for the Chilean Medical Association.Currently he serves on the Board of Directors of the Medical Association of Retired Physicians of Chile.

About this edition

• Publisher: Authorhouse
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 1425982271
• ISBN 13: 9781425982270
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 140