The problems in these mountain regions of Haiti.

There are a lot of uneducated expectant mothers who use traditional and somewhat dangerous practices during the prenatal period. Expectant mothers who do not have proper nutrition and care end up having babies with low birth weights and developmental delays or even retardation. Practices like wrapping the stomach tightly to force the baby out and many other things which can be dangerous and unhealthy, are the norm. Children are being fed rice when they are just days old and their stomachs are unable yet to digest hard foods. They are doing this because the mother’s nutrition is so poor that there is no breast milk. These people need education on what causes these problems, and sometimes assistance with getting infant formula etc. Infants and children who play in the feces laden dirt often are infested with worms and parasites that have sickening and even deadly effects on them. Burns and wounds are often treated in very unsanitary ways, causing further infection, and even permanent impairment. Some children have been left to die because of the hopelessness of caregivers who don’t know what to do next, or the inability to travel to find better medical care. If a mother or a father dies there are often 3-10 orphans who will struggle for existence and love. Many of these situations are able to be helped and sometimes prevented. We also know a lot of Satan worshipping VooDoo witchdoctors are being consulted for cures and treatments.

How we feel we can help….

We can provide a clean attractive clinic where we can give competent, compassionate care for those who need help. We can have a center where they can get sanitary first aid, medicines for common ailments, dewormers and vitamins… a clinic that can provide care and teaching on issues like, nutrition, and parasites, and sanitation. We can also provide a service to mothers and infants with checkups etc., nipping problems in the early stages. If life threatening or very serious situations come up that would be beyond our abilities, then referral to a larger hospital, or even providing ambulance service might be in order. We see the potential that overnight care for a few patients may be needed and provision for that could be made as the need would arise. We also see the possibility that some children may never be able to go back to their former settings because they are orphans, because of abuse, or simply that their parents/caregivers lack the ability to look after them. Complete family care is important here, yet sometimes these children of God the Father may need to be cared for until a permanent solution can be worked out. Solutions are worked out with proper authorities and may include finding them local foster parents, or taking them to a good orphanage that helps with official local or foreign adoptions so they can soon have a Dad and a Mom again.

We believe a medical/nutritional clinic is a good place to also introduce people to Jesus, the Great Physician. Running it as a soul clinic would also be part of the underlying principle of operations.

What we need to get started…

A house or that could be rented and modified to function as a clinic. It would need solar panels, some plumbing, and water sterilization, etc. It would also need to have some cabinets, beds, some minor equipment, and supplies, including a stock of medicine. These are somewhat available in the country and/or in the DR.
We need some compassionate, qualified people to attend to these medical issues. Nurses from abroad, and maybe locals as well. In the village there is a man who has some medical schooling and has been practicing as a “doctor” for 15 yrs. His practice is currently located in a rented single room that is unsanitary, has only one cot, and no lights or water. He is eager to expand his practice, learn more, and work with us.
A reliable vehicle that could traverse the long dangerous mountain road, through the rivers and up the mountains. A 4×4 with a diesel engine is almost a must and maintenance costs will be high even on relatively low mileage units.
A house that our family and temporary workers could effectively live in, and again, solar panels and a UV water purification system. Being “Haitian” and rubbing shoulders with the common man is what we want, nevertheless, living costs in Haiti are surprisingly high. We have drawn up a list of expected expenses for the first year.

What we have…

We have our family who is willing to go to Haiti and live for an open ended length of time.
I (Keith) have a good head start on the Creole language and culture, because I was raised in it for 6 yrs.
We have 2 teenage boys who will be kept busy as much as possible with productive, helpful things, looking for new ways to serve the community.
We have some American nurses who are already volunteering to work in this clinic, and a volunteer teacher from Alberta wanting to teach our children.
We have suitable buildings in the area and available to rent.
We have some people who are concerned and ready to help with some of the costs of such a project.

What are we waiting for?