Before,
and . . .
Kay Espwa
A region of 56,000 people, it is estimated that half of the population of Port Salut are children. Its only hospital is understaffed by poorly trained and educated physicians and nurses. Moreover, lacking in even the most basic equipment, supplies and pharmaceuticals, the hospital turns away sick and dying children for their family’s inability to pay. It was from our first visit to this hospital that we decided to bring a program of comprehensive health and medical care to the children of Port Salut, Haiti. Thereafter, all of our efforts went to achieving that end.
The first thing we set out to do was to establish a presence in the community. We bought land upon which we built a storage facility. We instituted food and ancillary community support programs. We adopted a primary school of 222 children and provided it with benches and books. We paid the children’s tuition and the teachers’ salaries. We also instituted a lunch program for its students. Investing in the secondary education of some very gifted older students, we sponsored three doctors, a nurse, a dentist, an engineer and two masonry students.
In the aftermath of hurricanes, we replaced roofs and repaired houses. We bought a house, stripped it naked and refurbished it. We named it “Kay Espwa,” meaning “Hope House” in Kreyol, the language of the people. Our guest house not only entertains No Time For Poverty’s visitors and volunteers, but those of other groups and foundations coming to Port Salut.
Once it was apparent to the community that we were there to stay, we began working to establish deep and abiding partnerships between the community of Port Salut and No Time For Poverty aimed at developing a health and medical program for its children. Toward this end, we formed a close and personal union with a grass roots organization known as the “Peasant Movement of Port Salut,” its purpose being to engage in programs for the betterment of the region. Together and over time, we met with groups across the region including Catholic, Protestant and Voodoo, teachers, police, local elected officials, traditional healers, and many more. We traveled to villages across Port Salut. We talked to mothers and to fathers and to grandparents and to elders. We made acquaintances and developed friendships. We listened and we shared. From these interactions, a comprehensive model of pediatric care emerged and with it, the roles and responsibilities for development and implementation were clearly defined between No Time For Poverty and the community of Port Salut.
The third component of the program would be educational. Classes would include postnatal care, breastfeeding, nutrition and many more.
Much progress has been made since the formulation of our comprehensive medical and health program. Thanks to Hospital Sisters Mission Outreach in Springfield, Illinois, equipment and supplies are being accumulated for shipment to the clinic. EirGen Pharma, Ltd. of Waterford, Ireland continues to supply and ship to us five of our most costly medications. In Haiti, Partners in Health, under the auspices of Dr. Paul Farmer, Hospital Brenda Strafford, Hospital St. Damien and the Haitian Health Foundation provide invaluable consultation to and support of our program. We also continue to cultivate our relationships with Haiti’s government and regional health officials.
Today, an 8,370 square foot clinic sitting on two-and-one-half of a five acre parcel of land is expected to be completed by the end of summer 2010 at a cost of approximately $665,000. Pre-Outreach Program implementation has begun with a comprehensive census of the five localities chosen by the community to participate in our comprehensive community Outreach Program.
That we’ve done a lot in these past years there is no doubt. That there is much more to be done there is also no doubt. While it was anger and outrage that first brought us to Haiti and motivated us to make a difference, it is now love that inspires us. Exactly when the transformation occurred, we can not say. We do, however, understand the how. It came with every sick and dying child we held and in every parent who comforted them. It came in the music, the vibrancy and the laughter that is Haiti – even under the worst of circumstances. It came in those Haitians we now call family and who in turn call us the same.
Michele Boston
explaining how
and why weight monitoring
is important.
For us, Haiti is now a forever thing in an amazing journey that continues to cradle our hearts, our souls and our lives. To those who have traveled the journey with us by giving of time, money or support – we extend our deepest gratitude and invite you to continue your travels with us. To those of you who have yet to make the journey, we sincerely invite you to become a part.
Every child has an inherent right to life.
No child need suffer when medications are available to treat and ease their pain.
The death of any child is intolerable, especially those easily within our grasp to save.
We have a responsibility to ensure that every generation of children has a better chance at life than those who have journeyed before them.
We Believe
Our Story
Second, a comprehensive community Outreach Program would be designed and implemented involving community members at all levels of assessment, program implementation and education. Community health agents, chosen by the community in accordance with a prescribed selection process and trained by No Time For Poverty, would provide the following services to (initially) five pre-selected communities:
• weight monitoring
• rehydration therapy
• pneumonia detection
• vaccination administration
• Vitamin A distribution
Community health agents would not supplant the work of doctors or nurses but would provide a vital interface between the clinic and community. It was estimated that this comprehensive community Outreach Program would provide service to thousands of children each year.
Working in conjunction with community health agents would be mothers’ groups whose members, also selected in a prescribed manner by the community, would assist in data collection, education and illness prevention planning.
First, it was decided Klinik Timoun Nou Yo, Kreyol for “Our Children’s Clinic” would be built to provide affordable, quality primary medical care and treatment to the children of Port Salut ages one day to sixteen years. A nominal fee for service would be charged in an effort to preserve the pride and dignity of the families whose children were recipients of services. However, no child would be turned away for a caregiver’s inability to pay.
The services the clinic would offer include:
• Pediatric Care
• Emergency Services
• Same-Day Surgery
• Dental Care
• Pharmacy
• Laboratory
• X-Ray
Our facility would have an arsenal of equipment, supplies and pharmaceuticals to help a well-trained staff provide the finest pediatric medical and dental care to children of the region. We expected that Klinik Timoun Nou Yo would likely provide medical care and treatment to approximately 18,000 children per year within the clinic walls. It was also estimated that the clinic would provide dental care and treatment to approximately 4,000 children annually.