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Training for Women’s Health — by Moza-Flaure Alcius

July 3, 2012 Featured, From the Executive Director

Training for Women’s Health: A New Experience

Moza-Flaure Alcius (in the turquoise scrubs) Lamp for Haiti nurse

[This is an article from our latest newsletter. Find all the newsletters under the News tab]

I worked for two years at the clinic in Bwa Nèf, Cité Soleil. In addition to my normal nursing duties I was in charge of a nutrition program that involves treating children, from 0 to 5 years old, who are suffering from malnutrition. Then, a few months ago, I was invited to participate in a training program for midwives. The program is an initiative of an organization called Midwives for Haiti and is located in Hinche, a three hour drive north of Port-au-Prince. It is a 10 month program and I jumped at the chance to gain a different kind of experience and acquire new knowledge about health.

As with the other successful candidates, I went through an interview process in November, and started the courses in mid-January. There are 16 students in the course, 14 women and 2 men, all with different backgrounds and experiences. They come from many different places in Haiti. The courses are not hard and are becoming more and more captivating. They are based on obstetrics and community health and are taught in Creole.

On some days we learn theory in class, and on other days we are given practical training at the hospital. The practical work in the hospital is very helpful; it allows us to encounter cases that we have not yet learned about, and later we discuss these cases in class. We also participate in mobile clinics that may go to very remote areas. In these areas pregnant women may easily die due to complications, because of the lack of health services. We saw one patient in her fifties who had already had several children. She said that she was in her fourth or fifth month of pregnancy, but when we examined her and gave her a pregnancy test, we discovered that she was not pregnant. When we explained that she was going through menopause, she did not want to believe us and said she would consult someone else, because she knew she was pregnant.

Experiences like this show us how much we can offer; being a midwife is no small affair. Women without means, whether in remote areas or in Cité Soleil, need care to ensure that they have a healthy pregnancy and childbirth. Pregnancy should not be a life-threatening affair because of a lack of care or lack of education. I am proud to take part in this program because it will permit me to do my part to reduce maternal mortality in Cité Soleil, to empower women to take control of their own childbearing, and to bring healthy babies into the world.

Thank you for your confidence and kindness!

July 2, 2012 Featured, From the Medical Director

On behalf of those whom we work with and for, a resounding Thank you! for your generosity in material, finances and spirit. We are making a difference.

Since the earthquake of January 2010, we have refocused our mission to prioritize that which provides direct patient care, and related services. In short we want to keep our strengths strong and we are doing just that.

Some accomplishments to highlight…

Nurse training

Ms Flaure, one of our top nurses, is presently receiving advanced training in Hinche about 37 miles north of Port-au-Prince in the country’s central plateau region. The program is run by an organization called Midwives for Haiti (http://www.midwivesforhaiti.org/). She will return to work for us in December and will manage the women’s program.

Expanded hours

While previously we were able to see patients three days per week, we now are open five. Under the direction of Dr Barrere Hyppolite and Mr. Benoit Florestal, the facility is operating in a manner consistent with our goal of being about Haiti, run by Haitians.

Laboratory

Our laboratory has been inspected by the Ministry of Health, and we passed with flying colors. We perform basic serologies, blood counts, blood and sputum smears (for malaria, TB and other tropical illnesses). Miss Aline, our certified lab techinician, keeps the lab in top shape.

Pharmacy Expansion

Our pharmacy provides medications to patients at no charge. Periodically we revisit the notion of patients paying a small stipend for the meds. The reality is that when patients need to pay, they forgo treatment. Most people get by on about 50 cents daily in the area where we work.

Leadership

Perhaps more than anything, the leadership now in Lamp for Haiti has taken a huge step forward. Dr Barrere Hyppolite and Mr Benoit Florestal together set the tone for professionalism as they work each day, often under extreme circumstances, to ensure that patients are receiving quality health care.

Partnerships

We have partnered with several organizations providing health care and related services in Haiti. Among them are Americares and Pure Water for the World. We provide logistics support at Cardinal Stepinac orphanage in Bon Repos, located about 30minutes outside of Port-au-Prince.

Tension in Cité Soleil — the Lamp shines on

April 19, 2012 From the Executive Director

I’ve just come back from two weeks at the clinic in Haiti and the topic on the top of my thoughts is security. The Lamp’s work goes on as always, the staff are ever-more impressive, the quality of care always improving, but there is little doubt that life and work in Bwa Nèf is becoming more and more risky.

I have always been very aware that the Lamp’s special significance is its willingness to work in an area that few would even dare to visit — but this trip made the reality come alive for me.

The Lamp for Haiti works in Bwa Nèf, a section of the sprawling slum of Cité Soleil. All of Cité Soleil is impoverished and to some degree dangerous, but Bwa Nèf has a reputation well below the norm. It is a place that is outside of any normal government concern — the residents must sink or swim on their own. The area is dominated by local gangs that threaten, harass and rob the residents, and demand “protection money” from local businesses. On the main roads they surround and rob passing cars, including even long distance buses with 60 passengers or more. Bwa Nèf has always been a risky place to work but it has been getting worse.

The week before I arrived, a gang in a neighboring area shot and killed the principal of a local school along with the head of a well-known radio station and two other people. Police response to this type of incident takes the form of armed forays into the residential areas in search of the guilty parties. Pitched gun battles are the result, with innocent bystanders the frequent victims of gunshot wounds. Gangs take the opportunity to commit robberies wherever they wish. In this instance, gang members stormed through Bwa Nèf, robbing residents with abandon, and burning at least two homes. Many people in the area responded by simply fleeing — staying away from Bwa Nef altogether until the situation had settled.

When I arrived I found that local gang members had increased their visits to our clinic, demanding money. I braced myself for a conversation with them but other things intervened, for good or ill. A couple of days after my arrival a group of policemen crashed into our clinic, pointing their guns at the staff and demanding to know if we had been treating any “bandits”. They were, it seemed, searching for a gang member they had wounded in a recent shoot-out. It is certain they would have shot him dead if he had been at the clinic that day. Ironically enough, their aggressive behavior scared the staff more than any gang member ever had.

A couple of days later two bodies were found on the main road, very near to the clinic, and gang activity died down in anticipation of local police action.

It is a hard neighborhood, there is no doubt. Our own hope is this: that we can continue to build our reputation in the area, for neutrality, community service, and genuine caring, to the point that all community members, even the gangs, view us as an integral part of the community. Something to be protected rather than attacked. Our many meetings with community leaders show us that we do have a tremendous amount of respect and support in the community. With their help, and with the inspiring commitment of our staff, we will push through the hard times, put down deeper roots and, together with the community itself, grow stronger.

Please note that your donations to the Lamp will directly support our activities in Bwa Nèf, Cité Soleil — a community that is as impoverished and deserving as any in the world. Your compassionate consideration is very much appreciated.

Donate

April 19, 2012 Featured, How You Can Help

The people of Cité Soleil remain in desperate need of your support and solidarity. Here are some things you can do to help:

Donate by mail:

Lamp for Haiti
P.O. Box 39703
Philadelphia, PA 19106
(267) 295-2822

Donate online via PayPal or major credit card:

Give a gift from our wish list:

Your gift of $25 buys malaria screening for 15 patients
Your gift of $50 buys HIV testing for 22 patients
Your gift of $110 buys treatment for 5 patients, including consultation with a physician, lab tests, medicine and specialized services as needed (x-ray, EKG, nebulizer, etc.)
Your gift of $125 buys a full slate of (6) initial tests for 10 pregnant women
Each gift of $150 provides one severely malnourished child with the lifesaving nutrition program, Medika Mamba (a ready-to-use therapeutic food made of ground roasted peanuts, powdered milk, cooking oil, sugar, vitamins and minerals.) Includes the eight week treatment, weekly supervision by staff, and treatment of related health problems such as worms and opportunistic infection.
Your gift of $380 supports a child in school for one year. You will be assigned a specific child and will receive semi-annual reports. Includes uniforms, fees, books, school materials and school snacks. Urgent! $760 for two!
Your gift of $750 buys one mobile clinic in another underserved area of Cité Soleil, providing urgent medical care for 250 patients.

Or consider being the sponsor of a major improvement at the Lamp:

We have several hugely desirable projects that require the commitment of a serious philanthropist.

SPECIAL: Ultrasound machine for Women’s Clinic. Portable Mindray DP50: $9,000
SPECIAL: Sanitation project for clinic neighborhood. 120 yard drainage canal to eliminate standing water near clinic, thereby reducing water borne disease and eliminating mosquitos that cause Zika, Dengue, “Break-bone” fever (Chickungunya), and Malaria. Terrific quality of life improvement for the whole area. An urgent need. $11,000
Lab expansion — appropriate for TB diagnosis — counters, plumbing, flooring, equipment — $4,200

Other ways to support us:

Lamp for Haiti Board Member Richard Evans has generously agreed to donate a portion of the proceeds from sales of his first book to the Lamp. In Health and Capital: A Rational Path to Fairness and Efficiency in American Health Care, Dr. Evans reviews the moral and economic costs of the present health care system. A long time friend of Medical Director Dr. Jim Morgan, Richard Evans has supported the work of the Lamp since its inception. Richard Evans earned a doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from North Carolina State University in 1988 and a master’s of Public and Private Management from Yale University in 1991. Health and Capital is available online here

The Lamp for Haiti is a federally recognized 501(c) 3 charitable organization qualified to receive tax-deductible contributions. Your donation to the Lamp is tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

Donate Materials

April 18, 2012 How You Can Help

Currently the material goods we are most in need of are:

Closed-Toe Shoes in childrens’ sizes (e.g. Crocs, Keens or similar): Closed-toe rubber-soled shoes that are appropriate for hot weather, e.g. Crocs or Keens, are of great use. The ground in Cite Soleil is extremely hazardous and most children do not have footwear. We ask that you consider donating at least a dozen pairs in good order; while we greatly appreciate all donations, because of the costs of transporting and distributing we cannot make cost effective use of individual pairs.

If you have other options for donation of material goods, please contact us directly at: admin@wordpress-92375-260288.cloudwaysapps.com

Lamp for Haiti
P.O. Box 39703
Philadelphia, PA 19106
(267) 295-2822

Host a Fundraiser

April 18, 2012 How You Can Help

Hosting a fundraiser is a terrific way to make more people aware of the Lamp’s work in Cité Soleil. It’s a great way to get people thinking about those who are less fortunate than us and a great way to help people contribute in a meaningful way. It’s hard not to feel good about a fundraiser when the cause is so clearly worthwhile.

If a fundraiser might be a possibility for you, give Henry Reimer a call at 267-499-0516, or send an email to admin@wordpress-92375-260288.cloudwaysapps.com. We would be very happy to provide printed materials and help you develop your idea.

February 28, 2012 – A Place of Respect in the Community

February 28, 2012 From the Medical Director

If you have ever known someone with true bipolar disease, formerly known as manic depressive disorder, you know that it can be painful.

When I was in medical school I lived downstairs from Don. He had a severe case of the disorder. Don was usually in pretty good shape, but occasionally when he felt himself with the twinges suggesting mania, he would deliberately stop his meds and go manic. He would feel great, until he didn’t . Usually he would wind up in a hospital several states away, feeling “…rather strange.” He had trouble expounding, but he knew it was not normal.

Yesterday I had the feeling that mine was a reportable case of bipolar disorder, but rather than a week or a month of sadness followed by an equal time of mania, I had these feelings at the same time. It really should be in a medical journal somewhere.

As we were driving into Cite Soleil, the huge, dirty urban slum was coming physically into view, and into smell. Strangely absent were the people, its streets typically teeming with their activity. Our manager Benoit was driving, and he slowed the vehicle to maintain a safe distance behind the truck ahead. He was not following the “one car length for every 10mph” as I like to remind the new drivers in my own home. Rather he was lagging behind to scope the road ahead and to ensure that should bandits suddenly appear with guns ready to pull a carjacking, we have a chance to turn around quick. The collegial chatter that normally reminds me of traveling home from high school with friends, suddenly ended. The nurses donned their Lamp for Haiti scrubs. The doctors put their stethoscopes around their necks. ( I gave mine to Toma, our registration clerk, thinking he would look silly in his sunglasses and trying to explain that he was with a medical team. ) We made it through, and the friendly banter rose up again to its normal volume.

The Lamp medical team has earned a place of respect in the community. Even the robbers will show some mercy, as they did two weeks ago and only stole about half of what they might have taken. Our staff’s courage in the face of such daily challenges is impressive, and they routine talk of the need to provide the care that they were trained to do.

Minutes later a young woman came in to be seen with pelvic pain. After examining her , and dong some simple tests in our lab, we were able to treat her with appropriate medications, professionally administered, in a way that made me beam with pride. The staff’s professionalism was standout. The young woman’s modesty and privacy was maintained, and she was treated with respect and kindness. Again, I think of college… I knew a gal who used to say “anyone can be nice”. And while not all follow even this minimum, what we are trying to provide is quality, not just nice care. We are doing that at Lamp.

Jim

YES, YOU CAN DRINK THE WATER!

January 25, 2012 From the Executive Director

One of the ways in which the Lamp for Haiti reduces illness and improves quality of life is by providing access to drinking water. In Haiti, the public water supply, even where available, is not potable. Water borne diseases are rampant within Cité Soleil, as in most areas of Haiti. The possibility of a fresh outbreak of cholera in any location is ever-present.

So it was with great satisfaction that the Lamp put not one, but two, water purification systems into place this week. The first — a solar powered unit — was installed at the Cardinal Stepinac Children’s Center at Bon Repos (shown below). The orphanage is a great partner of the Lamp for Haiti, often assisting us in our efforts to move shipped goods through customs with dispatch, among many other things. The water will be a terrific boon to the kids (and staff!) at the orphanage, which had struggled with an inadequate water supply for many years.

The Bon Repos orphanage with the water system’s solar panels visible on the roof

The second system is a large “reverse osmosis” water purifier. Our thanks to US Water who donated this expensive and highly effective system. The unit is huge, filling a 20 foot shipping container, and can purify up to 100 gallons of water per minute. The unit has been set up at a local water purification plant, very near to Cité Soleil, in exchange for a tremendous quantity of pure water (16 million gallons, to be precise) and other services. The water will be brought into the Bwa Nèf community (where we work) and several other sites within Cite Soleil by truck.

Those of you who read our newsletter article on water projects may remember that the large “RO” machine was originally intended for a location within Cité Soleil, named Soleil Kat. We are also very happy to report that an American organization named Pure Water for the World has taken on the development of that location, and will be installing a full water purification station there. Although Cité Soleil has a very large population, the combination of these two sources of plentiful water are going to increase access to drinking water very significantly!

New Faces at the Lamp

December 12, 2011 From the Executive Director

The Lamp is thrilled to introduce our two newest staff members. Thanks to many excellent recommendations from our partners in Haiti we have been able to find two people who represent a perfect combination of professional skill and genuine compassion. We hope and assume that they will be with us for many years to come!

Dr. Barrère Hyppolite is our new In-Country Medical Director. He will oversee all clinic activities and, in tandem with Dr. Jim Morgan, will work to plan and implement the many additional services that we will be offering in the coming years. Dr. Hyppolite was working in a hospital in Cap Haitien prior to accepting this position and we are very happy that he felt the desire to come back to his hometown of Port-au-Prince!

Dr. Hyppolite and Benoit Florestal

Mr. Benoit Florestal is our new National Program Manager. He will be the administrative head of the Lamp’s programs in Haiti. As a well-experienced financial manager he will help us ensure that your contributions are used in the most efficient and effective ways possible. Benoit has only been with us for three weeks but his skills, his rapport with the community, and his genuine appreciation of the Lamp’s goals make it clear that he is a person, like Dr. Hyppolite, around whom we can build an ever-stronger and ever more effective organization.

In a community meeting last week, a local leader said, “Let the Lamp shine!” There is no doubt that, with these two new staff members, we will indeed keep the light shining, brighter than ever.

HOLIDAY GIFT IDEA! The satisfaction of a deed well done

December 9, 2011 From the Executive Director

To give a loved one a gift that matters, make a donation to the Lamp for Haiti on their behalf!

How it works:

Send us an email message at admin@wordpress-92375-260288.cloudwaysapps.com with:
— the name and address of the person that will receive the gift
— your name (the name of the giver)or tell us to make the gift “anonymous”.
— the amount of the donation

We will send the person a card like the one you see above!

Then make your donation on this site (the Donate button!) or send us a check at Box 39703, Philadelphia, PA 19106

Let your loved ones feel the satisfaction that comes with a gift of compassion.