Today, October 1, 2014, is a momentous day in the history of the Lamp! A great deal of truly inspiring work and generosity has combined to produce this marvelous outcome: the opening of our radiology unit.

We have benefited immensely from the support of so many individuals and partner agencies, from the selection of the equipment, its purchase, shipping and passage through customs, training of our x-ray technician, and installation that we can only celebrate the generosity of the human heart.  It has been an uplifting experience, to say the least!

The unit will greatly increase our ability to diagnose a great range of serious illnesses. Previously we were forced to ask patients to obtain x-rays elsewhere, at great cost to themselves. But, in fact, patients were not able to pay this cost: they simply came back empty-handed and Lamp physicians were forced to diagnose and attempt effective treatment without adequate information.

The x-ray machine itself is digital, which is a great boon, and not only because it is so much simpler to operate. Images can easily be sent by email, allowing collaboration between Haitian and US physicians or between health agencies in Haiti itself. It allows the residents of Bwa Nèf — and especially those with atypical conditions — access to a much wider range of expertise — entrance to a world beyond Bwa Nèf.

The young man pictured above, by the way, is Dénold Joseph, a resident of Bwa Néf itself — the community in which our clinic is located. For the past five months he has been taking hands-on radiography training at the St. Luke’s Foundation for Haiti hospital, in preparation for this day. He is very much ready to take on the role of primary x-ray technician for the Lamp. It will be great to have him at the clinic on a daily basis.

And, speaking of our staff, it is very satisfying to realize that our excellent physicians will have one more tool in their kit — allowing them to more fully use their existing skills, allowing their skills and knowledge to blossom. The people of Bwa Nèf can only benefit!

At one time, the Lamp was considering the construction of a whole new clinic building. The converted residences in which our clinic was located seemed less than ideal for the expanded services we wanted to offer. But financial constraints kept that idea on the sidelines. Strangely enough, the result has been something quite wonderful: an organically growing institution in the heart of the neighborhood.

This last year has seen a lot of construction, a very tangible message to the community that we are here to stay. The pictures above shows the covered seating area that is now nearing completion. Fifteen locally made metal benches will soon complete the scene.  We will be able to provide health education sessions to patients and other groups much more easily with this addition.

Some months ago we completed a small building with two additional exam rooms.

We have, in fact, reconfigured the entire clinic. Previously our main clinic building had sturdy walls around it but other buildings were outside that zone of safety. Now we have joined all four of of our buildings with a number of short walls, giving us a much larger “campus”. This has allowed us to pull down the large walls around the main clinic, making the whole area more open and welcoming.   A month ago a wall would have made these views impossible.

Our goal is to become a trusted community institution, an oasis of security, caring and professionalism, and a model for innovative social action. It is somewhat surprising, but it does seem that simple and modest physical changes may have moved us closer to that goal.

Leisa Faulkner and Paul Burke are the leading lights of Children’s Hope, a small California non-profit with a special interest in Haiti.  One of the goals of Children’s Hope is to inspire in young Americans a lifelong passion to understand, engage with, and assist the poorest of the poor.  It is one thing to talk about poverty in the abstract and another to experience first-hand the vast differences — in wealth, living conditions and opportunity — that are revealed by a 90 minute flight from the US mainland.  So, Leisa and Paul brought 15 young people to the Lamp clinic where they painted walls, picked up garbage and assisted the clinical staff.  They brought a burst of energy and enthusiasm to the clinic and the community.  (Thanks guys!)  Each of these young people also contributed a significant amount of cash which was converted into medical supplies and donated to the Lamp.  They have already made a difference in our world.

Children’s Hope has been assisting the Lamp for many years now.  Here’s wishing Leisa (on the ladder) and Paul (behind the tree) many inspiring, engaging years to come.

The building site; taking down the wall next to the main clinic

After: Manager Benoit Florestal in the new building

The Lamp is very pleased to announce the completion of a new two-room addition to our mini campus in Bwa Nèf, Cité Soleil.  It is a great step forward in more ways than one.  To begin with, the building has tremendous symbolic value — it represents our whole-hearted commitment to this community in a way that words cannot.  The building was constructed entirely with local labor and even local materials to the extent possible.  The beautiful logo was designed and completed by a local artist, using the hammered oil drums that Haiti’s artists are so famous for.  The community has participated in this expansion very directly.

The building also allows us to provide new and enhanced services.  Starting this month, the room on the left will be the new home for our women’s clinic.  Check this website in a few weeks for photos of the launch!  The room on the right will house our radiology facility.  The new digital x-ray machine has just arrived in Haiti this week.   It will be at the clinic very soon.

The construction of the building has also allowed us to create a little island of security for our patients and staff.  As the picture shows, we have created a walled courtyard that now contains the new building, our lab and the main clinic.  Bwa Nèf is often beset by episodes of violence or unrest.   This new arrangement allows all of our work to take place in an atmosphere of calm and security.

But we have more to do!  We are currently hiring local labor once again, to build a large roofed structure that will serve as the primary seating area for our patients.  We are also, once again, stretching our budget as far as it will go, but we have faith that our well-wishers will rally to the cause.  This is ground level work and we need to press forward.

[Photo: In the rainy season, standing water is everywhere.  Mosquito control is very difficult.]

Haiti, and at least 16 other Caribbean countries have been hit with a mosquito borne virus with the odd name of chikungunya.  It appeared first on the island of St Martin in December.   At this point suspected cases of the illness surpass 100,000 in number and there is no reason to think that the infection rate will subside any time soon.  The Lamp clinic is right in the middle of the outbreak.

Photo (CDC): aedes aegypti and aedes albopictus mosquitoes.  Aedes mosquitoes are the main transmission route for the disease.  This type of mosquito usually bites during the day.  They are found all over the world.

In Haiti, Port-au-Prince is the center of the outbreak with thousands of people infected.  Although the infection is rarely fatal it is very debilitating.  Chikungunya is an African word that means “contorted with pain” — a reference to the fact that a primary symptom is extreme joint pain.  Fever and joint pain are the most common symptoms but headache, muscle pain, joint swelling and rash may also occur.  It can be life threatening to newborns, elderly persons, and those with existing conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure.   There is no treatment for the disease, but drugs such as acetaminophen help to reduce the pain and discomfort.  The price of these drugs has skyrocketed over the last two months.

The area surrounding the Lamp clinic is a low-lying mosquito-ridden area.  The Bwa Nèf neighborhood is closed off, on two sides, by a huge tract of swampy land.  The new disease has hit Bwa Nèf hard.  These days, when our staff arrive at the clinic in the morning there are people lying on the ground, groaning from the pain of this ugly addition to the regular health menaces.  And our staff have not avoided the pain either: all of our staff (excepting only one doctor, so far) have already experienced the disease first-hand.  It has been a harsh month for our staff but we are not working in Bwa Nèf to avoid challenges.  The community of Bwa Nèf needs our commitment (contorted in pain, or not!)

One of the key principles of the Lamp is to build our organization — and the wider Haitian health system — by hiring and developing talented and committed Haitian professionals.

The unemployment rate in Haiti is murderously high, estimated at 41% for 2013.  Of persons who are employed, only one third have formal jobs.  Underemployment  — where a worker is  unable to earn a living wage, unable to  provide for the basic needs of their families — affects a huge proportion of those who are considered employed.

Given the scarcity of jobs on one hand, and the overabundance of medical needs on the other, it gives us great satisfaction to provide our services with a fully Haitian staff.

The benefits of this philosophy, for the Lamp and the people of Cité Soleil, are also clear to see on the ground: staff with an intimate knowledge of local culture, language and the intricacies of the Haitian health system.

Denold (future x-ray tech) and manager Benoit discuss some construction issues

Of course, our focus is not only on the wider health system.  We also wish to build capacity, whenever possible, right here in the community in which we find ourselves.   We engage with community groups, provide community services, and assist with community improvements.  We provide jobs wherever possible.   It is very thrilling, therefore, to be able to announce that we have hired our first ever medical staff member (and third staffer overall) from Bwa Nèf itself.

Dénold has long proved his commitment to the Lamp’s cause and his genuine concern for his neighbors by volunteering selflessly at the clinic.  With the launch of our radiology facilities on the horizon, Dénold has taken up training as an x-ray technician at St. Luke’s Hospital, a generous and collaborative partner agency.  St. Luke’s uses x-ray equipment that is very similar to the equipment we will soon be installing.  When Dénold returns he will take full responsibility for the operation of the x-ray unit .

Although we could have chosen to hire one of St. Luke’s own technicians, we could not pass up this opportunity to build capacity in Bwa Nèf.  Dénold Joseph is an extraordinary young man, smart and compassionate; he will make a terrific addition to our team.

Several years ago, the Lamp realized that there was a large gap in locally available health services, namely that of services for women.  We therefore organized a women’s clinic, trained one of our nurses in midwifery and have provided specialized services, two days per week, since then.  Now, however, we are moving to expand and improve these services.  The first step was to construct a new building that could provide a home for the expanded women’s clinic.  Despite delays, we are very close to moving in to this new building.  Next, we needed someone to take on the role of women’s clinic director.  We hoped very much that we would be able to find a woman for this role.

We are very pleased to announce, therefore, the hire of Dr Ophnie Severe (pictured above).  Dr Severe will dedicate her time to the women’s clinic and we are very much looking forward to her energy and ideas.   Having a dedicated physician for the women’s health clinic has been a long-standing dream for the Lamp and is certain to take the women’s clinic to a new level of excellence.