Haitians, specifically for women and children:
1. Education about all reproductive issues:
A. Birth control
B. Sexually transmitted diseases
C. Prenatal care
D. Nutrition for Women and Children during all phases of the
childbearing years
2. Lack of Access to:
A. Family Planning- Condoms, other longterm methods of Birth Control
B. Tubal Ligation
C. Vitamins- Prenatal, Children's, Multiple with Iron
D. Screening for pregancies at risk
E. Medicines for STD's
I realize this is a large undertaking, but I have commitment and energy for the task. In Haiti, possibilities are less complicated than here in the States. This is a longterm plan, a dream of mine, in its infancy, and I am looking for others who might be interested in this type of work in Haiti, be it a small or large role, both here and in Haiti. Specificially, I am looking for OB nurses and MD's, midwives, nutritionists, RN's and MD's in any area of healthcare, anyone skilled at grant-writing or fundraising, people who speak French, have traveled to areas of poverty, or are energetic and generally committed to relief work. I hope to apply for grant(s) and have this be an ongoing project, including taking intermittent trips to Haiti to provide direct care for periods of one to two months with teams rotating in and out. It will be a huge benefit if anyone is seriously interested in traveling to work for one or 2 week (or longer) periods in Haiti.
I hope to work under the umbrella of Partners In Development, an established nonprofit group based in Ipswich Mass, with a clinic in Blanchard, Cite Soleil, an area of Port au Prince, close to the
countryside of Haiti. They currently have a clinic with 3 treatment rooms, a small emergency room, a social services organization with child sponsorship and support for severely needy families. They are building rapport with local hospitals, but have no outreach programs for women and children, and no real family planning or education for girls and women. I hope to start mobile clinics by winter of 2011, or maybe sooner.
If you are interested in attending an initial meeting for more information, or learning more, or getting involved in any way, please contact me: Alison Childs, RN, BSN, at [email protected], or call me 413-320-8963 (cell) or 413-582-0280 (home).
I look forward to working with you in the future to help the people of Haiti.
Sincerely,
-Alison