Yes, the clinic is OPEN! It was a success, and we survived! Matt was here from California to help us, and we started slowly… getting all the workers together on Monday to clean and arrange their spaces and get comfortable. We welcomed Nurse Vitanie from Gwo Cheval (formerly from Kwadebouke (Croix-des-Bouquets) and Nurse Marie Yolette from Kafou (Carrefour). They each have a consult room with a pharmacy aide. I act as a resource nurse to them both, and Jonathan is filling his role as administrator.
Tuesday, we opened without much fanfare… it was a cloudy day with occasional drizzles. Rain is a benediction, and we felt blessed. We were open from 8 to 2 and had 31 patients. There was a good mix of complaints, from a stroke to a malnourished child. There was suturing to do and blood pressures sky high to medicate. The waiting room was bustling with people for most of the day.
Wednesday we were closed… we hope to open Wednesdays as a vaccine/prenatal/planning day in the future. Jonathan and Matt traveled to Fon Parisien to see about a shipment of meds from the Dominican Republic.
Thursday was a rush. Market day, and the weather being nice, and the word getting out all combined to give us about 50 patients, with one arriving fresh to this world at around 130. It was a first-time mom with an unremarkable delivery, which was a good kind of delivery for a refresher course for me! We also saw a baby with a burned arm… it had happened on Saturday and had been treated with home remedies. Another malnourished baby… we sorely miss the government-sponsored nutrition program that used to be run in our neighboring town. We finished a little after 3 and went home smiling.
Friday Matt leaves for home after putting in a lot of work to help us get to this point. Matt, Keith, and Jonathan have worked hard to source meds and supplies. However, everything is more difficult in these times… and Christian Aid Ministries, who was a big supplier of many needed meds and other items, is not operating in Haiti now. The clinic now must pay full prices for all medications, making it necessary for us to ration what we have to serve those who need it most.
We want to thank everyone who helped us get back to this point, and for your prayers. We ask for your continued prayers and support. If you feel to help financially, please use the “Help Us” section of the website. Thank you! -Nurse Carmina
