Hi All! Greetings from Blanchard, Port au Prince. We are working hard at Partners in Development, a fantastic little place on the edge of PAP. There is a medical clinic here with a small hospital of sorts, several beds for emergency care. We see around 100 patients a day; some of the children are really sick. Lots of preganant women. There are several exam rooms to see patients, 2 Haitian nurses who work here every day, and one Haitian doctor, Doctor Sem, who is really good. There
are also 2 volunteeer nurses now from the US, one doctor, and me. Brooke is the medical coordinator, she is from Oregon and has been in Haiti since the earthquake.
The expectation is that I will see patients on my own, assess their needs and prescribe medications for them. Often times the medication I think they need is not available, so either I have to write them a prescription if they have money to buy it, or find another option. For certain thigns there are very few options- like skin rashes or fungal problems, of which there are many. They often use Tea Tree Oil. I feel worried at times that I don't know enough, that really, I am not a doctor (even tho they think I am). When i am in doubt I ask the real doctor, or consult a book that is compiled with all kinds of basic knowledge for treatment here for people like me. It is a little intimidating, knowing that I could make a huge mistake in prescribing, so I am very careful. Again, I feel really fortunate to have had the prior experiences I have had here, especially all I learned from Matt in Les Cayes.
We are fed 3 good meals here, and Vanya in the kitchen is accomodating my vegetarian diet- I kiss her every day for this. The boys are building houses in the community. You cannot imagine how wonderful this program is. They have already rebuilt 7 or 8 houses that fell in the earthquake, or new houses for families in need. The house that is being finished now is for a family who lives here on the grounds with 8 children in tents. Milo and Braeden are constantly surrounded by a large group of children. Milo keeps candy in his pockets to give them and they follow the guys back and forth to the clinic. The work is hard, mixing cement, sifting it and applying it to the houses. They are sweating and digging and sweating and sifting, but seem up for the task. They have made tons of friends and it is so great to have them here. I intend to make them heroes back home, as I am learning that it is rare that teenagers come here to do this kind of work and they are a fantastic pair. I feel really proud.
I am missing home a bit and already thinking about seeing you all again soon. Tonight we go to Delmas by motorcycle to celebrate Sindy's birthday. We hope to go to the beach this weekend, but some people are reluctant for fear the cholera is in the water. We are learning that the cases are spreading in Cite Soleile which is really disturbing for many reasons. I feel i should be working still at St Marc, but I am needed here also.
There is a computer here with intermittent availability when the internet is up- as usual here the power goes in and out.
So much love from all of us in Haiti.
- Alison