It's an interdependent world

First week back after having been home for Thanksgiving. It was a nice visit – I honestly had forgotten what Virginia and Fall looked liked. Though I was happy to be with family and friends, I was not too pleased with coming down with a fever for half of my stay, including Thanksgiving Day. I guess I must have over-adapted to the Caribbean heat.

Friday's matron training: receiving clean birth kits.

Aside from getting the house back in order and unpacking, I have been preoccupied with getting our midwives hired, documents translated, and meeting various needs at the hospital and with our clinic. It’s just me in the house now – my housemates are all gone! At least I have Ina Mae, the house kitty, to keep me company.

Genette reviewing a recent case at the hospital.

I had a nice visit with some Vitamin Angels employees. The company works to provide private sector vitamins and supplements to some of the world’s poorest peoples, including Haiti. They had given MFH a huge shipment of prenatal vitamins, and so the company wanted to learn about our programs, our needs, and how we are distributing their vitamins. You can learn more at http://www.vitaminangels.org/.

Nadene and Steve are now in town for a few days. They are heading out tomorrow actually. But it has been a whirlwind visit with interviews, meetings, phone calling, etc.

I just had interesting conversation with Steve about Haiti’s corruption and lack of rule of law, as is common in most developing countries. But, don’t forget still exists in the U.S.! Anyhow, my Haitian friend recently told me about a police officer who followed an ex-girlfriend and her boyfriend home and shot and killed the boyfriend on the spot. Now, this is a perfect example of how the police force, the supposed “peacekeeping” force in Haiti, fails to deliver what Haiti needs: a strong legal system and a means to sustain it. How can MFH make a difference here? Well, everything is interconnected some way or another. I believe that our mission goes beyond basic maternal health care – it follows women into their homes and into their personal relationships, hopefully building on a positive perspective and way of life.   

Hit the road

Putting up some electrical wiring outside the house. 

Quick update! I am going to try to put up more pictures this time!

Some people will be getting electricity in their homes for the first time ever!

I had a field trip out to Thomassique. We helped get another matron (home birth attendant) program off the ground at Hospital St. Joseph. I took an hour and a half motorcycle ride on some need-of-repair (that’s an understatement) roads to help Miss Marthe, our trainer, get the first class started. They have a small but lively group of matrons who were eager to participate and learn. The course will last for 20 weeks, after which I will help celebrate the finish with another grand graduation.

Miss Marthe and the class of matrons on their first day.

School children using the Jerry Can (water filter).

I also took a trip out to Clory, not so long of a ride this time, to take pictures of the school, children, and proposed sites for future projects. The VMI Engineers Without Borders Chapter Club will be making a trip to Haiti for their spring break. I am helping with their housing, transportation, and preparations for some building projects at Clory. Looking forward to that!

Everyone wants to see themselves in the picture!

Some of the children playing in the field by the school.

It’s a very busy time with the class finishing, students needing jobs, employees needing salaries, and volunteers needing direction. I’m beginning to think that maybe this job would be better with two people! But, I am getting a break from all of it this weekend. I will be going home for Thanksgiving. A list minute call, but I am looking forward to seeing family and friends. Happy Holidays to everyone!

After Sandy

Happy November! I hope everyone had a fun-filled Halloween evening. I kept my eye out for trick-or-treaters, but none came by. Haiti does celebrate the dead and its ancestors though. Because of that, the entire country has a few days off.

From the house garden.

I also hope that everyone is recovering from whatever damage Sandy caused. As you all know, she paid Haiti a visit before hitting the U.S.. Though Hinche and the Central Plateau were spared, other areas suffered severe damage and flooding. I read that some 50 people died as well. Though I would never wish a natural disaster upon anyone, I couldn’t help but snicker at the Facebook comments complaining about no power or running water. If you think about it, a few days can’t be so bad when some people live under those very conditions for an entire lifetime.

From the house garden.

Another group came and went last week. The usual coordinating, running errands, and answering questions followed just as well. One important item on my list was the bank. Now, in Haiti, there is no “drive-thru” bank option. Everyone waits in line with everyone else. This is no big deal if you go only occasionally. But, at Fonkoze, there is no system to inform people that their money has arrived. Sometimes, it takes a few tries before getting anything. You just have to be patient!

My housemates and I have started a new trend, or daily routine, with an evening cinema. We watched the entire Twilight series (the one with the vampires) in French and have since been enjoying other movies just about every night. It’s been nice to use our projector, so that everyone can enjoy the entertainment!

An embroidery sample for scrubs and other items.

We have sunflowers! I have counted four healthy ones. Most didn’t make it, but we are grateful for the ones that did!

Graduation

The 15 graduates in their opening song.

It’s rainy and cool today. Almost pants weather!

Dr. Stephen Eads, MFH Co-Director, says a few words. 

We had a great weekend with graduation for the Class of 2013. The 15 students had the week off preparing for the event. We had rehearsal Wednesday, Thursday, and then Friday, with decorations on Saturday. Because I was participating in one of the dances, Haiti Cherie, I had to attend all of the practices. The students had prepared at least five songs, a couple of skits, and two dances. They have been practicing for weeks!

The final touches came on Saturday, when we cleaned and set-up a local school’s auditorium for the program and catered dinner. White and gold balloons and ribbons were hung, curtains were put on the stage, and cloths were laid out on the tables, enough for 40-50 people. Graduations in Haiti, just like in the U.S., are a big deal. As they should be, I think, considering all of the time and efforts that students and teachers alike put into the 11-month MFH course - big congratulations to all of them!

Dr. Laguerre, Medical Director of St. Thérèse

I won’t embarrass myself putting up a video of the traditional folk dance we performed, but you can listen to the song at Haiti Cherie.

These past two days haven’t been any less busy than those leading up to graduation. I had six additional Americans in the house last week, along with another group of five staying at the orphanage that arrived just before the graduation. Lots of people coming and going, so it’s part of my job to make sure everyone gets to where they need to be as smoothly as possible.

Steve presenting a gift to some of our preceptors.

One of the students, Flaure, giving a speech.

I have been able, however, to join Jenna Schmitz, the CPM coordinating the matron program for MFH, on a few interviews in the area. She wanted to get feedback from local mothers on their birth experiences at home with matrons. So, we packed the recorder and some sunscreen before heading out to do some home visits. Most women were very open and had lots of interesting things to share. For instance, I learned that though some of the women lived nearby the hospital, they chose to have their baby at home because they knew they had “kout pye,” or “short labor.” The literal meaning of the phrase translates to “short feet.” Not wanting to risk giving birth en route was definitely a good enough reason not to go to the hospital. Another was that the women just felt more comfortable being at home. Besides, most had other children and had to look after them.

Shirley, myself, Jenna, and Mirline

More to share later! 

Class of 2013

I’ve lost track of time! I almost missed last week’s update!

We are currently underway with holding 37 interviews for prospective midwifery students. Last week, we held a 25-question exam covering basic nursing skills and situational awareness for 81 applicants. Though most live in Hinche, we had some applicants that came all the way from Port-au-Prince just to take an hour exam. Because of the lack of internet access in Haiti, we primarily relied on word-of-mouth to announce the Class of 2013 registration. For now at least, it seems to be working.

So, we are in our second day of holding interviews. Just based on scores, we were able to eliminate quite a few people, but not enough to fill only 15 spaces. We have to take into account whether or not the applicants will have a job after our program. Referrals are important, therefore, as we still have graduates that are without work.

Let’s see, what else? We are preparing our 20-week birth assistant program ready for another group of matrons in the community of Rivage. We have already been seeing results from the previous class – matrons are accompanying women to the hospital when complications come up. MFH is so excited to have this new addition.

If anyone is interested in reading about Haiti, its history, and/or culture, I have some great recommendations for you. I just finished Travesty in Haiti by Dr. Tim Schwartz (http://www.travestyinhaiti.com/). It’s an account of the missions in Haiti that contributed to the extreme poverty during the 90’s and early 00’s. Unfortunately, good intentions don’t always lead to good results.

Stay tuned – Graduation for the Class of 2012 is this weekend! Pictures to follow.