Mothers and Children Report

This past week the last of our summer interns returned home, but they probably have as much work in front of them as their actual internship.  For, we request a formal report to give us guidance on what we should be improving.  We recently received our first report form Dr. Sristi, who returned earlier.  Her report, "Maternal and Child Health at Visitation Clinic", was very well done and gives a glimpse into life in rural Haiti.  Here are some excerpts:

Households:  "Most of the respondents (70.9%) lived in 3-generation families.  These types of families include the respondent and her spouse, their children as well as their parents.  25.5% of respondents lived in nuclear families while 3.6% lived in joint families, where in addition to parents, the household included respondent's brothers and sisters and their respective families." 

Childbirth:  Among 26 women who had recently given birth,  21 delivered at home.  "Among the home deliveries, 90% of them were assisted by midwives, while 10% were un-assisted."

"None of the respondents were aware of the their child's birth weight"

Midwife training:  "The respondents who reported using assistance of the midwives for delivery were asked if they were aware if the midwives had any formal training.  59.4% reported that their midwives were trained, 15.6% reported that their midwives were not trained, and 25% were unsure of the training status of their midwives.  For most midwives who were trained, the place of training was reported as a nearby dispensary."

"Transportation is another major issue faced by the patients as well as the clinic.  Most patients either travel on foot, or use local transportation services like a motorcycle.  The would be a major issue for a patient in labor.  A hospital ambulance service, especially for women in labor would be helpful for the community."

The entire 15-page report is replete with similar insights and facts.   It reminds us that there are still challenging healthcare needs in our community, and it suggests some good ways to respond to them.  For this we are most grateful.  We only hope that our interns know how appreciated there work is.  May they be blessed with the deep sense of satisfaction that comes from a job well done.  

Michaelle's Story

She was 13 when her father brought her to Visitation Clinic.  Michaelle was listless, loosing weight and obviously ill.  Even though her parents were poor and lived in the remote mountains, they had heard good things about our clinic, so they decided to make the journey, even bypassing a much closer health-center.  She was, after all, their oldest daughter and they were desperate not to loose her.  Our doctors quickly diagnosed the problem - diabetes, type I.  Such news is distressing to receive anywhere in the world, but in rural Haiti it is especially foreboding.  Insulin is expensive, hard to find, and there are no refrigerators or electricity to keep it cool.  Plus, patients need a clinic nearby to help them monitor the disease.

Our staff realized the grim predicament that Michaelle and her parents faced.  If she returned to the mountains, there would be little likelihood of controlling the disease, and her young life would be difficult and short.  But people in rural Haiti have a long tradition of sharing burdens and helping each other out.  So a solution was found.  Michaelle would move close to the clinic.  Where would she stay?  One of our own housekeepers volunteered to house her.  What about school?  Our administrators stepped forward and offered to help out.  How about medical expenses?  Visitation Clinic would cover them. 

So, for the past three years, Michaelle has become one of our success stories.  She comes by the clinic every afternoon for her shot and a meal.  In return she helps out with kitchen chores and cleaning.  She is now in fourth grade and is on track to finish primary school next year.  And as the pictures show, her ready smile and sweet disposition are far from the dour little girl who came to our doors three years ago.

Sometimes you need a reminder

about why we do what we do.  Recently we received  a pair of emails that did just that.  One was sent by a friend of a Haitian woman, M. who was sick and wound up at the general hospital in Port-au-Prince. 
"It is very tempting to give a play by play of events but in an attempt to be brief -  patients stay for free at the hospital with the idea that they pay for daily examinations and keep up on necessary prescriptions. There is a terrible bathroom provided (I saw it) but no one uses it. Most people have chamber pots next to their cots. Sheets, blankets, pillows and hospital gowns are provided by the patient. M. kept her blood samples on ice in a cooler next to her bed- which was also provided by herself and/or benefactors. Basically if you needed it, you brought it or bought it. When her husband went to talk to the doctor, M. pulled me to her ear and told me that she could not handle being in the hospital any longer. The conditions were terrible and she was afraid of catching something that would kill her while in her vulnerable state. Each cot was about 2 feet apart and in a large room separated only by a nurses station. It resembled a military hospital inasmuch as the density of patients gathered in a single room. Patients were even laying on the ground.... (The hospital doctor)  said that even though he provides care, he is not responsible for anything except for words. He writes prescriptions and does examinations. ...  I inquired about getting M. out of the hospital so that she may live at home until her operation. He agreed and wrote her 2 prescriptions to take home. As we began to gather her things, people started to bicker about who would receive her bed. This caused us to leave in a timely fashion and M. was happy to be gone."

In contrast, the second email was a brief note to our administrator from one of our interns:

"I also wanted to thank you for making my stay at Visitation Clinic very comfortable and pleasant. Your concern for all guests there including me was much appreciated. Your hospitality humbled me. The staff at the clinic was so nice and I appreciate the fact that they went out of their way to make me feel one with everyone else.   ... I was very impressed to see a clinic that provides good health care in rural Haiti. I am sure that the quality of care provided is exceptional and that people are very happy to have the clinic. I sincerely hope that the clinic expands and starts multiple services for people. I see that the work that you do is appreciated in the community and I do hope that continues forever."