Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Reflections of Haiti
Now that I am back, I fully realize how fortunate and super spoiled we are in the US. Already I caught myself complaining about a brisk walk in 105F temperatures when we had afternoons of 120F weather in Haiti with no air conditioning to escape to. I guess heat seems hotter, hunger seems more gut wrenching and dirtiness seems more disgusting because in the first world we have the immediate option to remove ourselves from it while Haitians have no other option aside from sucking it up and dealing with it.Upon reflection, the enormity of the destruction and despair in Haiti was so overwhelming most days that it was difficult for me to see any salvation for this country even in the distant future. I still encourage everyone to go to Haiti and volunteer or even just to visit and see first hand the beauty of the country and its people amidst the rubble. But I would like to hope that organizations will start working more closely together with each other and with the Haitians because its the Haitians who need the jobs and its the Haitians who truly have the most invested in their country. In the meantime, to continue helping Haiti, I have been very touched and inspired by the life, charisma and tenacity of a particular 22 year old Haitian (the earthquake left him an orphan as well as head of household of his extended family who have moved in with him) that I am looking to sponsor him to come to the US to continue his law studies so he can someday try to tackle the corruption in his country and make Haiti a bountiful place for the children of his beautiful niece (pictured). I am apprehensive but also eager to embark on this endeavor and hope that I will have the strength and perseverance (and financial support!) of others to see this to fruition because I do sincerely have faith in this individual to make an impact... a much bigger impact than the one month of my volunteer work. Anyone with some insight into this kind of effort? When I get a firm proposal together, I will be looking for financial support - let me know if you want to stay posted.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Ayiti Day #28 - Dènye jou (Last Day)
I spent most of my last day at the Belaire clinic with my favorite Haitian-partner-in-pharmacy-crime, John (pictured) and being transported in my favorite mode -- via open air flatbed truck! Clinic was not a super crazy day as it usually is and I wonder if it was because of soccer or if I had mastered the pharmacy.Three months ago, Haiti was merely a whimsical idea. I wasn't even sure if I would be competent enough to come and truly contribute. Now, Haiti has enchanted me and, for the first time ever, I am already planning to return. After speaking with others, I've come to realize that there is a certain type of magic about Haiti which immediately charms you. All the smiles I've seen were warm and embracing. All the 'bou jou's I've received were sincere. But, I've been most impressed with the Haitian resiliency. They are a resilient people. Most have lived in poverty all their lives and have been thrust into even harder living conditions since the earthquake. But they cope with the change and persevere. In my one month, I have yet to hear a Haitian complain (with the exception of the sick who see us at the clinic, of course). So I really have no excuse for disliking our trickle showers in Leogane, for having an 8p curfew or for cursing the flash afternoon rains for soaking my dried clothes on the line again. The Haitians have it right. Be happy for what you already have; a happy life can be a very simple one too.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Ayiti Day #27 - Orévwa Lèogâne (Good-bye Lèogâne)
I took only ONE picture today. It is a picture of the Lèogâne clinic after I bade my farewells and my car started pulling away bound for Port-au-Prince. I didn't realize how emotionally attached I had gotten to Lèogâne and its people until I found myself totally drained and passed out in the 1 hour car ride back to Port-au-Prince at 10a! The sheer devastation combined with the amiable people instantly enchanted me the first week I was in Lèogâne (I've been here for 3 weeks). In Lèogâne, I was Haitian. I wasn't 'Karen'. I was 'Kaoween'; I even introduced myself as such. Noone forceably peddled their wares to me nor harrassed me. Everyone said 'bon jour' and most kids screamed 'blanc' (white/foreigner) when they saw me and I would scream back 'noir' (black) or 'jaune' (yellow). People wanted to practice their English with me and I would try my petit petit of Creole on them. This 3 week experience of living and working in Leogane is EXACTLY the type of immersion to a foreign country and its people I was seeking to find in my new life as a nurse. I am so extremely fortunate to have this opportunity so early in my career. Maybe I will not even consider travelling to any other countries for aid missions in the future as Haiti will be in need of help for generations to come. After 10+ years of travelling to 41 countries, I think the travelbug has finally been knocked out of me...Sunday, June 27, 2010
Ayiti Day #26 - Double Diety Dose Day
I'm not religious but I simply love attending church services because I love being around others who are filled with positive passion. I've gone to Sunday service each of the 4 Sundays I've been in Haiti. So it is befitting that I would spend my last Sunday in Haiti with a 7a AND a 3p service.Haitians seem to have become more religious since the earthquake as a way to express gratitude for surviving as well as coping with their current lives. The 7a service was held under a large tarp at the entrance steps outside the original collapsed church. Egged on by my friend (and because he stood up to announce that I would say a couple of words), I made my first impromptu speech in front of an audience of 150 Haitians (with him translating). I spoke briefly about being a volunteer nurse working in a mobile health clinic for a month, about the beauty of Haiti, about the even more beautiful Haitians, about how impressed I have been with how hard working the people are and about Surely, by looking towards the future and positive thinking, Haiti can be transformed and rise to be a first world country
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Ayiti Day #25 - Condoléance (My Condolences)
The death of a parent must be painful for any family. Today I attended a Haitian funeral for a friend's father today. To prepare, I was to make sure I wore no red on my person as red would mark the murderer of the deceased. As I did not want to be designated as such especially for someone I didn't know, in the morning of, I did a full survey and realized my sneakers contained large segments of red. My only other available footwear were my flipflops (which are brown) but then I realized my toenails were painted red. In desperation, I took a black marker and blackened my toes. I think my ploy was quite effective as I still remain alive.The funeral was held in a church and consisted of religious readings, a recited biography of the deceased, audience singing and individual singing. There was a bit of wailing from the wife of the deceased which tore at my heart. And it makes me wonder how horrible and difficult it must have been during the night of the earthquake. I teared immediately when my friend's sister's voiced cracked from sorrow in the middle of her song. Worse, the mixture of my tears with the sunblock on my face further aggrevated my eyes resulting to even more tears. They must have thought I was freak blanc. The coffin was then taken to a public cemetery, placed into a vault and sealed with cement blocks. I found it curious that no plaque is placed indicating the deceased name. The family would just have to remember the location. Afterwards, alcohol was poured onto my hands for cleaning prior to entry into my friend's home to symbolize cleansing of the old and starting anew. Interesting concept. It was nice to be around Haitians who were in the spirit of the future and moving on.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Ayiti Day #24 - My last working day in Leogane
Today completed my last working day during my 
three week stint in Leogane -- the epicenter of the earthquake. We finished up our mobile clinic at Fondwa - a remote area 1 hour away by cracked roads which was upon a hill with wide, sweeping views of terraced farmlands. Patients who come to this clinic travel far (2 weeks ago someone walked 5hrs) and usually the waiting area is packed even before we arrive. Today though, we had only a measely handful of 35 patients (instead of 70+ from previous weeks). As I asked around, causes were: the World Cup (everyone, including the dogs are fans), high chance of rain (since these people trek for miles to attend clinic, traversing up our hill was near impossible by foot in mud) and finally, the huge winds. Recent buildup of winds as we enter cyclone season made leaving accomodations (especially tents) a risk of losing ones home. I can't imagine living with no security of home -- that it may get blown away by the wind, swept away by the floods and stolen from. One of our doctors lost his home in the quake and is currently living in a tent. He maintains all his possessions in this tent. He and his family live there by night but by day, everyone exits as it is too hot to remain inside. In my near 1 month in Haiti, I have come to realize the Haitians are a very unique group of people. Despite the horrors of their living conditions and working conditions, they remain steadfast in their work ethics. They work hard with NEVER a complaint and with ALWAYS the most brilliant gleaming smile. (Speaking of smile, I flossed my teeth with a sugar cane today!)Thursday, June 24, 2010
Ayiti Day #23 - Ansanm (Together)
We got a taste of what it truly means to donate effectively today.
Upon cleaning out our bedroom pharmacy, we realized we had about 5 large boxes of medical material we would never use in our health clinic. They were things like surgical supplies, splints, an overabundance of bandages and casting material. So we decided to bring all these supplies to MSF's (Doctors Without Borders) large hospital facility in the area. But apparently like us, they were also inundated with donated supplies and did not want to be 'dumped on' as well. Asking around, we were told there was a nursing school nearby. When we arrived, what we saw was an impressive air-conditioned tent hospital facility desperate for supplies. 5 NGOs (one of which was Worldwide Village) collaborated to create this hospital and their intention was to move into the St Croix Hospital in downtown Leogane which has been abandoned since the earthquake mostly due to the population's insecurity of being in a concrete edifice 3 stories high. Our mission to find a home for our supplies was ultimately fruitful and it was motivating to see NGOs working together for a common good finally.Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Ayiti Day #22 - Lapli rive (the rain arrives)
During our afternoon clinic in the beloved Dufort site (NOT!), we 
were engulfed by torrential rains and forced to evacuate. Our hole-ridden tarps were no match against the downpour. Driving through town, we passed numerous groups of people huddled beneath awnings of any kind to stay dry until the rain passed (usually about 1 hour or so). Since I was seated on the outer edge of the bench on the tap tap, I was utterly soaked when we arrived. How will these poor people survive the hurricane season which is estimated to be more intense this year?Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Ayiti Day #21 - Tre anpil doule! (LOTS of pain)
An 8 year old girl came in today with an infected toe. Somehow she had peeled off a nickel-sized flap from the underside of her big toe. Bugs buzzed all around it. The doctor wanted to clean it up and suture it. Although he used lidocaine, apparently it wasn't enough because the little girl was in agony calling out for help from sheer pain as he sunk his prolene needle deep in. I winced each time she screamed during the 30 minutes of the procedure. She had absolutely no voice and no tears left at the end. If I was queued to be seen, surely I would have abandoned the clinic visit after the first horrible 5 minutes. I was left wondering though if this happens in hospitals as well. Boy, are there huge disparities between the practice of health professionals of a third world country and that of a first world country.Monday, June 21, 2010
Ayiti Day#20 - It's not fair
Imagine feeling obligated to go to work because you fear that you may not get paid or that you may get laid off. The father of one of our translators died yesterday and although I pleaded him to go home and be with his family, he refused for fear that he would not get paid. Our translators get $20/day. That's peanuts for us, but a family's full week of meals in Haiti. He cannot afford to not be paid. Imagine not being able to grieve and forced to work. I would not be able to cope. What huge sacrifices Haitians make to survive.(Pictured is the process of adding credit to my cellphone. You need to hunt down the person who is the designated credit seller and he will transfer credits from his phone to yours for a fee. What a concept!)
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Ayiti Day #19 - Haitian garbage
We noticed last week a large portion of our 
daily clinic trash consisted of empty medication containers and packaging. This week, the greenie in me had us start reusing these empties in medication dispersement and, amazingly, we had only one mere garbage bag of trash for the entire week. It is horrendous the amount of waste pharmaceuticals generate with their excessive ostentatious packaging. Our iron pills came 5 in one plastic container. It is absurd to even think that 5 pills would have any effect on an individual.Truly, over all, there needs to be less waste in Haiti. For such a poor country, I am surprised to see the large amount of trash on the streets. I half expected that poverty would encourage people to recycle, but it is not in their culture and knowledge to not litter and with all the foreign aid handouts, there also isn't much incentive to reuse. I believe it's USAID who has provided and who refill the huge bladders of water you see scattered around towns. People fill their large jugs via a big tap on the bladder. Because they know the bladder will get refilled, I've seen the tap open, emptying its precious contents onto the streets. In addition, due to the lack of a sanitation program, burning garbage is the only viable method of disposition. We have had to dispose of our own expired medications by burning as well! To help with population employment, a nationwide reimbursement recycling program would clean up the streets and 
keep people busy
. I wonder if there is any organization with a recycling initiative... sadly everyone's main concern at the moment is probably to clean up the earthquake rubble first... Although I have noticed a huge rebar harvesting effort amongst the rubble.
keep people busy
. I wonder if there is any organization with a recycling initiative... sadly everyone's main concern at the moment is probably to clean up the earthquake rubble first... Although I have noticed a huge rebar harvesting effort amongst the rubble.Saturday, June 19, 2010
Ayiti Day#18 - Mwen pa konprann (I don't understand)
Imagine having a good job and still not feeling a sense of financial security. Most jobs available are not contractual (even those employed by the NGO sector). Organizations can lay someone off seemingly at their whim since there is no need to provide evidence for the dismissal. You are among the elite 8% employed if you have a job at all. Usually an employed person supports his extended family as well. 
Although I am not harrassed on the streets, I am stopped occassionally to talk about job prospects with my NGO. Most people are looking to be translators. I have been ashamed to know that I speak only one language fluently while many Haitians speak at least 3 (French, Creole, English and sometimes Spanish). Being a native English speaker is a huge advantage. People here starve to practice English with others. I love being involved in their efforts of bettering themselves. In addition, at times their choice of words gives me a new perspective on the english language. For example, doesn't 'making photos' make so much more sense than 'taking photos'?
(Top picture is a panoramic view from the Bellaire clinic window. Rubble on the left are the remains of a school. Rubble on the right are the remains of an 8 family residential building. No one from the building survived.)
(Bottom picture is a panoramic view of the Bellaire clinic. To the right is the patient waiting area. To the left is the post-triage queue for a physician consult. In the top/back of the room, is the pharmacy area.)
Friday, June 18, 2010
Ayiti Day #17 - Bon Travay! (Good Job!)
We went to Biteau today. It's the poorest community we have serviced this week. Homemade tents are erected 
upon soil right next to a cemetery. Last night's rain linger still and we wonder how these people stay dry. Ultimately we concluded that they probably don't. The elements are a part of life, not something you seek to avoid.The saddest thing I have realized so far is that the population is so traumatized by the quake, they are fearful of going back to living in cement structures. They will be living in tents for quite a while and tent conditions are not conducive to a healthy life. Many patients come in with skin conditions, like scabies (a highly infectious condition whereby numerous mites burrow under your skin!). It is difficult to irradicate if one is living in a tent and sleeping on a dirt floor. I hope there is a nearer term solution for these people. Living in a tent cannot be a long term solution...
Another week in Leogane has come and gone. I am saddened to know that I have become a bit numb to the rubble and difficulties of living in Haiti. But maybe it's because I have also become a bit more Haitian! I have become fairly comfortable conducting pharmacy work sans translator giving all my instruction in Creole. Responding to questions asked is a different story though. I've noticed my brain becomes very spongelike when I travel. Possibly the adrenaline from the travel experience gives my brain a bit of a hormone-induced high allowing for rapid synapse firing and vocabulary absorption. Or maybe it's because I LOVE to surprise our beloved translators with pearls of unexpected Creole. It's great to see them break out in elated awe when I toss out Creole in general conversation. Although I do wonder when they praise me on my good Haitian accent. I sincerely hope I am redeployed here to spend my final full week in Leogane. I can't imagine a better way to conclude my trip!
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Ayiti Day #16 - Se bie! (It's awesome!)
One thing I love about travelling is meeting all the personalities. Despite living in the Metro NYC area, I don't get many chances to meet random new people. But when I am on holiday... especially medical missions, I get the unique opportunity to meet all types of people from all around the world 
with a similiar passion. It's very comforting to know that other people care as well and I am always so inspired by their capacity to give. Not only do they practice on a daily basis their profession, but they love it enough to bring it along and practice during their vacation time. I am not yet half way through my month in Haiti (not that I'm counting, mind you!) and already I am stricken by the overwhelming number of organizations and their amazing motivation to do more.(I chose to post the picture of a cat begging for my lunch because cats are a rare sight as Haitians eat them. And because I love cats.)
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Ayiti Day #15 - An n ale nan ATM (Let's go to the ATM!)
You can never expect anything to be easy in Haiti. It's just the nature of life here and you learn to accept it. So when we realized that we were low on money (I left most of it in Port-au-Prince) to continue our post-clinic drink purchases at the air-conditioned oasis called "Chou Chou" - its a mini-7-11 type establishment, we decided to set out on a mission to find the closest ATM. Well, we made the biggest ATM run effort ever in mankind. After inquiring at a local bank, we were informed the closest ATM was at Carrefour. Halfway between Leogane and Port-au-Prince, it would take us 
at least 2 hours to go and return. With only 2.5 hours to spare after finishing our clinic and before dinner started at 6p, we committed to a rushed silly $40USD decision to rent a tap tap (local spare parts taxi). There was a possibility of the ATM machine being broken or rejecting our cards hence also a possibility we would not even be able to pay for our transport! Luck was on our side. We were able to withdraw money from the ATM AND return on time for dinner with 15 minutes to spare! I need to get me a "New York" lottery ticket tomorrow!Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Ayiti Day #14 - Tu mal (too bad)
At about 2p today, Haiti experienced a tremor. I was in mid-conversation with one of our translators when he interrupted me and said 'Did you feel that?'. Honestly, I did not notice anything. But all the Haitians did and it was the talk of the day. The tremor has been described as the shaking you feel when a large truck drives past you. Being a city dweller most of my life, I must have learned to ignore that sensation! It goes to show that 5 months later, everyone is still extremely on edge and fearful of another traumatic earthquake.When I first arrived, I inquired about every Haitians whereabouts and their experience during the quake. Everyone has a sad story and everyone knows at least one person who died.
Having seen the 2nd plane hit and experienced September 11th (but not knowing anyone who died), I recall my 6 month recovery of numbing despair and sadness. Haitians have lived through so so much worse. So today, I've decided to officially stop asking. In our clinics, we see many people with trouble eating, trouble sleeping and struggling to cope with post-traumatic stress. Repeatedly retelling their traumatic experience to blancs so soon must not be therapeutic. How insensitive I have been. I can't imagine what must be going on in their heads as they strive to look towards a hopeful future as well as grapple with the painful present and past.Monday, June 14, 2010
Ayiti Day #13 - Mwen ayisyen (I'm Haitian)
When I travel I make an effort to do as the locals do. For example, although my usual diet does not typically include meat, I make an exception when I am in a foreign country (I've eaten dog, horse, snake, kangaroo, emu, crickets, ants, worms, rocky mountain oysters, turkey penis, whale, mystery street meat -- but no cat in Haiti as of yet!). While in a foreign country, I enjoy immersing myself into their culture and trying my best to be a native myself by learning their language, dressing as they do and using their 
mannerisms. I enjoy realizing that they are intelligent human beings with interesting life stories just like you and me. Most of all, I enjoy experiencing a bit more of this incredible universe we all exist in.So, I became a little bit more Haitian today... by getting my hair braided. It was a 1.5 hour scalp numbing ordeal. Haitian girls' scalp nerves must become desensitized by this process as 5 hours later I'm still debating about taking my codeine phosphate or not. I'm not sure if this is the look for me. What do you think?
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Ayiti Day #12 - Zanmi mwen (My friends)
Boy, was the house uncomfortably quiet today. Our volunteer super gang of 11 was reduced to 3 with people heading home. The dynamic of the group was great and we got along very well even though I spent only 1 full day with 6 of the people. I felt a real connection between us all and truly hope we stay in touch. An attending, 3 residents and their nurse from a family practice in Utah came together as part of their residency program. I hope this great example will set a precedent for future residency programs and remind new doctors how valuable their new skills really are.
I can't imagine how difficult it must be for the Haitian translators to befriend a volunteer group knowing that their new friends will disappear back home in a week. They are so outwardly friendly and eager to help and share with the full knowledge that the new relationship is only temporary. At this point, I've only experienced 2 groups leaving and I, myself, am finding it a challenge to stay happy and perky in forming these temporary relationships. Surely this experience has and will leave me with connections to generous, kind, like-minded people all over the US and hopefully many will not be temporary!
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Ayiti Day #11 - Jou du triage (Triage Day)
We had a huge number of medical staff today since the BelAire and the Leogane teams joined forces. We were so efficient the group finished the clinic at a record breaking 12:30p. I spent most of the day in triage. Totally unaccustomed to working with infants and children, I tried the best I could to apply my limited pediatric nursing intuition. I found it particularly difficult to hear the heart beat and see the respiratory rate of the infants especially when the sight of an asian freaked some of them out into maniacal wailing. I really enjoyed being able to sleuth a bit into the ailments of these patients and talk to them about NOT forgetting to take their blood pressure pills and drinking enough 
water throughout the day. I was definitely overwhelmed at first and got a whole lot more confortable when we finished off with the kids and moved onto adults. Many of the infants had fevers and luckily none came in floppy (as has been the case in the past). Interestingly there has even been cases where a non-parent had gone on the infant line with an infant in tow in order to have themselves be seen sooner! The cunning and resourceful Haitian strikes again!Friday, June 11, 2010
Ayiti Day #10 - Padwa anpil! (You are very welcome!)
Oftentimes I wonder if I am truly making a difference to anyone by being here. As a nurse, I don't exactly feel like I am directly affecting the life of anyone. Here, the function of a nurse is mainly that of pharmacy. We read the doctor's order and we give out the meds with a bit of instruction. We hope that the dosage directions are fully understood and they will take the meds appropriately. When we leave the clinic, rubble and garbage are still strewn all over the streets. There are still dirty children, hungry people and homeless families. But today I realized if anything I have new friends in our three Leogane Haitian translators. Today ended our 5 day stint running mobile clinics in the Leogane area. Before parting ways, we spoke about the week and it was very touching to hear how extremely grateful the translators were to have us helping their people. As a team, we have been very effective and hopefully have saved lives and relieved suffering along the way. Our little drops are hopefully one of many in the tidal wave towards creating a better Haiti. I can't wait to return next week!Thursday, June 10, 2010
Ayiti Day #9 - Ou belle (You are beautiful)
Although we were at one of the nicest areas atop a mountain top today for clinic, we didn't get to enjoy much of Fondwa. Since the community is very isolated, we were the only health service around. Many children had high fevers with suspect malaria, one woman had a huge weeping breast mass/wound/botched masectomy, one man did not follow up and left his surgical staples in his arm for a month which allowed skin to start growing around the staples (pictured) and one man walked 30km (6 hours) 
to attend our clinic. This is life as usual for the general population in Haiti. If we weren't around, they would have lived with their conditions until they succumbed to it. It makes me fully realize how fortunate I am. I had been complaining about the heat, nasty toilet conditions (pictured is our trek to the reeking port-o-potties which we didn't end up using) and lack of water pressure in the shower at the Mennonite camp. Most Haitians don't even have the opportunity to shower every day. Yet, they still maintain their sparkly white clothes, tidy appearance and smile at the blancs. Haitians are an amazing people.Wednesday, June 09, 2010
Ayiti Day #8 - Map boule! (We are burning!)
Formally, "Hello" is "Bon jou" in Creole. Casually, "What's up?" 
is "Sak pase" in Creole. In response, you say "Map boule!" which means "We are burning". Truly you must be doing well if you are burning here in 120F heat (yes, it was recorded on our thermometer at 2p today!) rather than dying in the heat. At 18 degrees latitude north, Haiti is about the same distance from the equator as Darwin, Australia (12 degrees south). It must have been because we had the air conditioned Darwin Casuarina Shopping Center to escape to or there is a large magnifying glass focused on Haiti. There has been no time in the day I have felt dry nor clean.Our clinic at Dufort today was the most difficult clinic to work in so far. The clinic is held under a tarp behind a small schoolhouse. Because we are surrounded by the walls of neighboring ho
mes, there is no air circulation hence also LOTS OF BUGS. We thought we would have relief when it started to rain at 3p. The drippy tarp and the small stream which formed through our clinic indicated otherwise.My arms
are all scratched up from prickly heat itchiness. For the first time, I've even surrendered to the use of drugs and taken a benadryl to dull the itchiness. The sedative part is hitting me nOoOoOow...(I included a picture of the mosquito suit the Bayada nursing agency provided me. I was only able to tolerate it for 1 hour. At least everyone had a big chuckle though!)
Tuesday, June 08, 2010
Ayiti Day #7 - WHO health cluster meeting
I can't imagine a nicer mobile clinic day than the one we had in Gressier on Valou Beach today. Although we didn't feel the urge to swim in the rocky beach, the setting was beautiful and our clientele were adorable especially since there was a nearby orphanage.Had my first taste of organizational relief work as I was requested to go to the WHO Health cluster meeting to represent Heart to Heart International. There were about 15 organizations present including the coordinator we met at the MSF hospital yesterday. The meeting was held in french 
so I missed most of it but luckily George, our translator, was with me and he helped me to understand some of it. There is serious intention by a number of organizations to establish themselves in Haiti but seemingly the collaboration effort is at its infancy. Today's talk was about population vaccination (who will do it and who will supply it) and women's health referrals. This is a well-written report from last week's health cluster meeting which I believe is a good reflection of these health cluster meetings: http://primaryendpoint.blogspot.com/2010/06/sobering-meeting-of-who-health-cluster.html There is so much more work to do...
so I missed most of it but luckily George, our translator, was with me and he helped me to understand some of it. There is serious intention by a number of organizations to establish themselves in Haiti but seemingly the collaboration effort is at its infancy. Today's talk was about population vaccination (who will do it and who will supply it) and women's health referrals. This is a well-written report from last week's health cluster meeting which I believe is a good reflection of these health cluster meetings: http://primaryendpoint.blogspot.com/2010/06/sobering-meeting-of-who-health-cluster.html There is so much more work to do...Monday, June 07, 2010
Ayiti Day #6 - Leogane Day #1
We ventured through the horrendous traffice of Port-au-Prince (where there were numerous stalled cars in the middle of the road due to last night's big rain, potholes the size and depth of community wells and dwellings squeezed atop every traffic island savoring the extra bit of height away from rain water). I had been shocked by the devastation in Port-au-Prince during my first 5 days in Haiti but am now aghast by the ruthlessness of the earthquake upon arriving into Leogane. 80% of Leogane was destroyed by the quake. From what we saw today, it seemed more like 90+%. Tents and refurbished shipping containers were the main forms of accomodation.After we finished working in the Nazarene church clinic today, we took a wander of the neighborhood and stumbled upon the very elaborate and well-conceived MSF tent hospital. Luckily we were able to hitch a tour and learn a bit about their large and growing maternity unit, pediatric unit, ortho units and ER. It was very nice to see such a well-done permanent structure with the pure goal of giving health care to the needy.
I particularly enjoyed the day of being Haitian. No one came to beg money of us today. We barely even received any notice from passersby. I wonder if all the aid that has arrived has numbed them of the blanc prescence. At the moment, I receive the anonymity with joy but I truly wonder if it is misdirected.
(Also, we were very grateful to find the lone establishment with air conditioning (Chou Chou) and cold drinks!)
Sunday, June 06, 2010
Ayiti Day #5 - The opulent life
Amongst all the poverty, I am trying to cope with the high-class living I am experiencing here. I guess it only makes sense for NGOs to make sure that their skilled medical staff are safe and comfortable despite being surrounded by people living in tents and starving. At the Maison, we have maids, cooks, drivers, laundry is done on a daily basis, slow internet, fresh bottled water, mosquito netting around all the windows and the POOL. Today we took an air-conditioned car ride to a posh Chinese restaurant for lunch. I ended up paying $25USD for an average Chinese meal. I will say now that this will be the only luxury meal I am willing to partake while I am here. I'm not saying I didn't enjoy it. I did enjoy the meal and particularly the company, but I feel guilt ridden for having spent so much on a meal when I could have just had a powerbar. Since returning to the US, I have found it ever more difficult to differentiate between want and need. From watching the Haitians, there are really not many needs for existence. I have so much to learn from them. I head to Leogane tomorrow. Life is supposed to be more rugged, more raw and more HOT! I can't wait!
Saturday, June 05, 2010
Ayiti Day #4 - The power of giving
Ten years ago, I never would have imagined that my life would feel so rich whilst being so cash poor. From 9a-3p (after waking up at 6a), we worked at the Belaire clinic. Although my arduous self-inflicted task of the day was reorganizing the wound care area (talk about mess!), I enjoyed knowing that the clinic would run alot smoother going forward. The sense of camraderie is enormous knowing that everyone else is there to make the clinic work for the benefit of the Haitians.Afterwards, four of us decided to venture to the University of Miami Medishare Tent Hospital next to the Port au Prince airport to see what assistance we would be able to provide knowing they will be doing their big move to a permanent building tomorrow. It was amazing to see the amount of activity, effort and commitment at this facility. I felt a warm comfortable surge of humanitarian volunteerism sweep over me and I embraced it. It was a great sort of feeling of oneness -- of belonging.
We were able to help the hospital transport patient belongings to a nearby children't hospital as well as transport an interesting and inspiring fellow American with a bum foot back to his accomodation in Petionville. Both the hospital staff and our new friend were supremely grateful for what we did to help them out but I think the pleasure was all ours for having had the opportunity to make living in Haiti easier.
Pics: http://www.flickr.com/photos/livealittle/sets/72157624482464200/
Friday, June 04, 2010
Ayiti Day #3 - Hardened Happy Haitian Babies
Another day of clinic work in Bellaire. The driver took us by the depressing, fallen and abandoned presidential palace. How representative this structure is to the current Haitian condition. It was once a seat of power and glory and now it is being neglected to succomb to whatever forces that wish to overcome it.I felt a whole lot more competent today with knowing where 70% of the drugs were. The patients were expressively grateful. The translators have been superb making sure that all the information is relayed. Also I did 2 infant rocephin injections today and it's amazing how resilient these babies are. Although they do cry, it is not the whaling cries you expect of most little kids. It seems to be the cry of "OUCH!" rather than "OMG. This is going to kill me!" And almost immediately after I withdraw the needle, the crying stops and they go on being their happy selves. Half the patients who come in are children yet there is not much crying heard in the clinic. Most seem content despite their horrid living conditions. Maybe they are already hardened in their young age. It's quite a sad thing to consider but at least it's nice to see that they at least seem blissfully happy.
Pics: http://www.flickr.com/photos/livealittle/sets/72157624482191008/
Thursday, June 03, 2010
Ayiti Day #2 - First day of Haiti work
OMG. What a day. Where do I start? It was God's Day today and supposedly many people observed in their churches but we still had a whopping 120+ patients at Heart to Heart International's biggest clinic in Bellaire. The clinic is cleverly set up on the balcony floor of a Nazarene church and it was wonderful to walk into beautiful religious singing.I spent most of the day in pharmacy counting and dispensing meds with the aid of a translator. Correction. I spent most of today on a medication scavenger hunt. Most children were malnutritioned (vitamins), had skin infections (permetrin) and had fevers (tylenol) and coughs (tylenol cold). Most adult patients had chronic diseases such as hypertension (hctz) and diabetes (metformin). I did do a couple of rocephin and tetanus IM injections though.
I tell you, infection control goes out the window in Haiti. I was only able to do one injection donning gloves (pictured). It was the most clumsy task because my hands immediately started pouring with sweat once I wore the gloves. It was just as difficult to keep my hands in the gloves as it was to grasp the syringe. Yikes! I hope I am not already starting to pick up bad habits!
Pics: http://www.flickr.com/photos/livealittle/sets/72157624481871336/
Wednesday, June 02, 2010
Ayiti Day #1 - Haiti Arrival
I was calm, cool and collected about my Haiti adventure until 1 hour before my boarding time. My head started to spin, my heart to palpitate and my eyes to tear. All of a sudden, I was overwhelmed by the enormity of my commitment to providing effective nursing care in a disaster area when I was still a green nurse. But the reception I had at my new home in Haiti (the Maison) made me feel so wanted that already I knew that 4 weeks would still not be enough.Amongst the sea of chaos at the new temporary Port-au-Prince air terminal, Shari (the Maison manager) screamed 'Karen' and gave me the biggest welcoming hug. I was then quickly hussled to our car, introduced to Herven (the driver) and Cheryl (an volunteer RN who after 3 days seems to know everything already). At the luxurious Maison, I met Susan, Jenny, Denise, Rich, Josh and Randy. Dinner was of scrumptious rice and beans, salad and plaintains prepared by the Haitian cooks. I was in Haitian paradise. I even had 30 minutes of internet before it was cut off!
I am still nervous about my first day of work tomorrow. As I drift asleep to the hum of the 4 big fans in girls' dorm room, I remain anxious in my ability to muster up enough nursing skills to help our patients.
Pics: http://www.flickr.com/photos/livealittle/sets/72157624481503634/
