THE RIDE FROM SALTADERE

Nadene posted this on Facebook the other week - I wanted to feature it in this week's post. It's a great story!

Dear Anne, 

Two weeks ago on February 5th, the pink Jeep took four midwives to do the monthly prenatal clinic at Saltadere. On the way they dropped off two CNM's, Diane Rousseau and Marion Alex, at the Birth Center at Thomassique. They were stopping there to do continuing education with the birth center staff on the difference between chronic hypertension and preeclampsia in pregnancy and the treatment protocols for both. Our three graduates there, Wilna, Founa, and Natacha, are always glad for the morale boost that volunteer midwives give them. 

Thomassique is an hour's ride from Hinche and the road is very rough. Saltadere is another hour east of Thomassique and as you know, there is no birth center there. When the midwives, Magdala, Thelamaque, Marie Anise, and Merlinda, arrived, they set up their stations and proceeded to see 26 pregnant women and one who had a negative pregnancy test. One woman was treated with Aldomet for Chronic hypertension at 20 weeks gestation. Her blood pressure came down to normal one hour after taking her medication so she went home with a month's supply. 

But there were five women who were very sick. They had very high blood pressures related to preeclampsia- the major killer of pregnant women in Haiti. (In 3 of the charts I saw records of 194/120, 208/128 and 154/100.) Two of them were in labor and vomiting. Three were term pregnancies and two were preterm.

So when the Jeep stopped in Thomassique at the end of the day to pick up Marion and Diane, the midwives told them to "Prese, prese" (hurry, hurry) because they had 5 high risk pregnant women in the Jeep to take to the hospital. Two were in labor and they hoped to get them to Ste. Therese before they delivered in the Jeep.

It was a harrowing ride. One of the risks of moving women with high blood pressures is that they will have seizures. Quiet, still, and laying on the left side would be the safest way to transport them. But there was no room in the Jeep for them to lay down and that Jeep ride over that bumpy road is anything but quiet and still. 

Diane and Marion found bags for the 2 vomiting women and tried to make others comfortable sitting on the floor with their heads in the midwives' laps. By the time the ride was over everyone on the Jeep was nauseated. The midwives had started IV's on all the pregnant women so that they would be well-hydrated for whatever needed to be done at the hospital. It was the best they could do. They feared the two in labor would deliver on the way and that the others would have seizures from the bumpy ride. They have a birth kit in the Jeep but space and time for the others was limited.
All eventually safely arrived at Ste. Therese in Hinche and were turned over to the midwives (all MFH graduates) at the maternity unit. Before the night was over. 4 had delivered, 2 premie babies were transported to Cange, and 4 had been treated and were still on MgSO4 for severe preeclampsia. The next morning the 5th was being induced for being 2 weeks postdates and delivered later that day, still on MgSO4. 

The good news that although we do not know the outcomes for the babies who went to Cange, we know that the other 3 babies and all the mothers did well and were eventually discharged. The following morning, two of the women, who were still in the same clothing from the day before, had no family to take them home to Saltadere and no clothing for their babies so Marion paid for their moto-taxi rides home and gave them cloth diapers, onsies, and receiving blankets from the MFH supply closet.

I know this is only one day and one story from Saltadere but I wanted you to let you and your parish know that their support of the mobile prenatal clinic's monthly trip to Saltadere saves the lives of mothers and babies. The Jeep's maintenance is costly but days like February 5th the ten lives saved make us grateful for its ability to provide reliable transportation for our midwives and their patients.

Thank you,

Nadene Brunk
Executive Director
Midwives For Haiti

Carnaval

A look onto Fort Picolet, Cap Haïtien.

Driving up to Cap Haïtien was no easy task. It took a damn good driver, a few pit stops (to relieve my stomach), and a dollar or two to pacify the boys behind masks and doused in car oil (Mardi Gras here prompts road blocks). Despite the rough ride, we made it safely to the northern shore of Haiti where we were to join in on the Carnaval 2013 festivities. I traveled with two recent college grads from a partner clinic. They had the connections and the driver already set. Though I had invited myself along (I won't pass up an opportunity to explore more of the country), they were more than willing to include me on their excursion!

Imagine this street packed with people shoulder to shoulder.

We decided to tour the sites during the day and then stop by the parades and dancing downtown in the evening. The first one on the list was the Citadel. Built in the early 19th century, the castle-like fortress was meant to defend Haiti from the French. Though I don't think they ever did, an earthquake hit not too long after it was built and marked it as a World Heritage site. After a steep climb on motorcycles and a 30 min upward climb, the views were amazing.

Making our way up to the Citadel.

The first evening of experiencing Carnaval was a bit interesting. We really didn't know what we were getting ourselves into. Tons of people filled the streets as soon as the music started. Big trucks equipped with tall speakers and open tops carried the bands and other dancing guests. We made the mistake of trying to cross the street and paid for it. When I say that, I literally meant that we paid with our wallets (we got rushed and pickpocketed). Live and learn...

A view from within the Citadel.

Coming onto Fort Picolet.

Next on the list was to explore the city and the coast. A cold cup of chocolate ice cream (real ice cream) got us off to a good start. We made our way through where we had walked the night before until we decided to take a taxi to a site called Fort Picolet. There, we walked along a path that the guidebook had warned not to take at high tide until we reached the ruins of yet another fort built to protect Haiti from the French. Had some great views there and a brief interaction with a Voodoo man. Very casual.

Haiti's local beer advertised on the Boulevard.

To sum up the trip, on the last day in "Okap" I had my first cheeseburger in Haiti, viewed Carnaval from a much safer spot in the stands above the crowds, and had my ears blasted with some very loud Haitian and Dominican Republican music. Everyone back in Hinche asked if I danced. I said no because I didn't know how to dance like a Haitian... dance lessons are underway so maybe next time!

The travelers posing at the Citadel.

Posing at the Palace, a stop below the Citadel.

The story must be heard

Credited to Cheryl Hanna-Truscott

Waiting to be seen at the hospital.

Happy Valentine's Week! Haiti doesn't celebrate the day of love, but it does celebrate Carnival (translated as "Meat Farewell" in Creole), which is the Holy Month kick-off for the country. It's in Cap Haïtien on the northern coast of Haiti. I'm heading up there tomorrow afternoon and will include that trip in my next post!

I've been learning the ins and outs of a web designer program called Joumla. It's been a true test of my patience, but it has to be done. I have taught myself how to edit, create, and format articles and menus to put onto the Midwives For Haiti Website. I recently added the "Matròn Outreach Program." Check it out!

 I can't tell you how much of this program relies on social media. Volunteers have told us that all they did was do a quick Facebook or Google search to learn about the program. I'll get over my frustrations for monthly donations and new volunteers any day.

Newborn getting weighed in our labor and delivery room.

 Speaking of social media, I wrote the February E-Newsletter that goes out to all donors, volunteers, and the like. You can sign up to receive this on the MFH website.

As I mentioned in my last email, I am taking over the volunteer communication and planning process. This week has involved a lot of computer work, updating document after document after document.

Group photo with my housemates.

Aside from the general upkeep and public relations, I have been becoming a bit of a baker. This past week, I took our "off-the-street" hand ground peanut butter and baked some Haitian-style peanut butter cookies. They weren't too bad (at least to anyone with a sweet tooth). I have homemade brownies and dump cake in my repertory as well. I've been thinking about adding that to my "Skills" list of my CV. What do you think?

At the Women's Co-op checking out their embroidered work.

If you haven't been following us on Facebook or Twitter, you missed out on some great news the other day. We had 95 women come to our mobile clinic for pre- and post-natal care. That's a record high. The word is getting out, and more and more women are getting care.

GameDay

SuperBowl chickens. I don't think they will be picking sides tonight.

Our office: complete with laptops, workbooks,
and the pregnant cat.

Just because we are in Haiti doesn't mean we can't root for our preferred teams in the SuperBowl. Yes, we are having a party for the big game. Three pretty chickens were waiting outside of our door this morning. I sure hope they look just as good in the hickory barbecue sauce we found at the store for our SuperBowl dinner tonight!

A local artist just put this up for us next to our gate.

     To sum up the week, I have been busy updating documents, formatting papers, and learning new processes on the internet. We are streamlining most of the "volunteer application process" to me now because I can give volunteers a better idea of what to expect, what to bring, etc. with me being on the ground.

I also made another trip out to Thomassique this week to visit St. Joseph's Clinic and the matròn program we helped start there. We are working on starting some inservice training there that will involve volunteers teaching and working with the three midwives staffed there.

Matròn Training: Magdala going over the lesson of the week: hand-washing.

Speaking of midwives, I recently chatted with my friend who just graduated from the MFH class last year. She is in Cité Soleil, one of the largest slums in the Northern Hemisphere. I asked her how her work was going (she is heading one of the Save the Children clinics). She replied, "Not good at all." She had not been able to go to work for two weeks because it was too dangerous. The overpopulated shanty town has many roaming gangs that threaten and kill people for money, food, etc. I hope the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti can do something about this if the government will not.

The class at the Matròn Training. 

The famous Pink Jeep (it's still surviving Haiti despite
its many service issues). 

On a more positive note, St. Therese Hospital here in Hinche hired seven of our recently graduated midwives. This just happened in December. With more hands and more skilled midwives, the maternity center can handle more patients without the staff getting overworked! We are now telling our volunteers that extra hands at the hospital really aren't needed. There isn't enough room in our labor and delivery room anyhow!