This is a blog for anyone interested in telling others of their time in Haiti. It's meant more for us to share stories, and please make any comments you'd like in the box below the posts (no need to sign in). Contact Julian if you would like to post on the blog--we welcome anyone doing health-related work in northern Haiti.

While we welcome discussion on this blog, issues meant for feedback from the Network should be posted on the discussion board by emailing caphealth@yahoogroups.com

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

St-Anthony Clinic

I visited St-Anthony's Clinic. The clinic is running well, they see about 100 patients per month. The clinic has one doctor, one nurse and a pharmacist. The clinic is open 5 days a week, however the doctor only comes on Mondays.

At this moment the clinic has a lack of medication in their pharmacy, when they don't have the medication the doctor or the nurse writes the patients a prescription to take to another pharmacy but some people can't afford to buy them. The pharmacy is supported by AmeriCares through the network.

The cholera rate was high at St-Anthony's clinic, but since the opening of the ORP in Fort-St Michel early december, the admission rate to the clinic has gone down. To prevent the cholera the doctor of the clinic (doctor Eugene) distributed some Aquatabs,chlorox and soaps to the local community who were very happy to receive them because otherwise their water is not clean. Food for the poor inc had drill one water well and have more then 5 water faucets in the village for the people but the water is not purified.

Mama Baby Haiti visit

On March the 4th the team visited MamaBaby it's a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the health and well being of mothers and babies. They open ever since November and seen 100 pregnant ladies.They provide care 24/7 women come to the clinic weekly for prenatal care and children and families show up for needed healthcare, the women come from all over Cap-Haitien.They teach mothers and families about prenatal health and nutrition, hygiene, childbirth education,and breastfeeding their baby.They provide free prenatal, birth, postpartum, and paediatric care. They have 3 staff working there 1 haitien midwife, and 2 naturopathic doctors that come from the US. they have seen 35 ladies per months and had 2 births in the month of February referrals to Justinien Hospital which is the biggest hospital in Cap-Haitien and St francois des sales in Voderll for labour complications. Their needs are oxygen, vit K, prenatal vits,augmentin, and medika mumba for the children.

The team is helping them on linking them with medika mumba and the albendazole program. We going to get them a meet with Dr.Noisin.

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Pilate trip

The team have visited Pilate with Dr. Jeanty form Shada clinic to assess and treat some patients with disabilities. We see 11 patients in the clinic and visited 10 patients at their house because they was unable to get out their homes.

We saw a 16 year old girl who had a fever 2 years ago which left her paralyzed. Her vision is very poor and its difficult for her to speak. She was a student in 5th grade before she had the fever. She would love to go back to school but she afraid of her classmates reactions. She along with 4 other patients will be coming to the rehab clinic at Haiti Hospital Appeal.

Pilate has 60000 habitants their water system is good. half of the people get their water from a pipe system connected to a water reservoir, the community put their hands together to get money to buy aquatabs and chlorox for purification. The other half of the people get their water from a water source next to a running river the people use that water to drink, wash their clothes, and to cook. There are water faucets in every part of Pilate but only some of them are function.

The team had given the pastor some soaps to distribute to the community.

Sanitation Supplies for Nativity Village

Well, I wanted to share those photos with you. We were able to serve
another poor community named Nativity Village with sanitation
supplies (bleach and soap) last Monday. But I'm so sorry the
photos are not so good (clear).

Thanks again to everyone for helping us fight against Cholera!

Blessings to all involved!

Eugene Maklin MD

[gallery]

Sunday, March 6, 2011

caphealth RE: List of Site needs of water purification

Hannah,

In Carrefour Jede in the courtyard of the Catholic School, Fountains of Hope has installed 2-700 tanks, one for the school and one for the general population. At St. Isidore which is 2 kilometers from Jede, Fountains of Hope also installed 2-700 gallon tanks to which the population has access. Installation at both sites took place in mid February, 2011. Techs have been trained at each site so safe water should be readily available.

Fountains of Hope also did an installation at Grisson-Garde. You might check with the Catholic priest at Grisson-Garde about the details.

Judy Harpenau
St. Bartholomew Parish
Columbus IN

Saturday, March 5, 2011

List of Site needs of water purification

This blog is dedicated to sharing the basic information we have on water access at our members' sites, towns and villages. The info is not in any order of priority or location - it's completely random.

I would be grateful if you could read through the information on your own area and feeback any changes or additional information that would be helpful for this water project. This will be use by the 'water network' to prioritise and coordinate the work being done in north Haiti.

If your area is not listed here, we will be getting in touch with you! However, if you would like to speed up the process we would welcome you to email the details you know about your area, similar to the info below, including the population size.

With thanks

Hannah
hannahsteadman@hotmail.com
(509) 34411546

Centre de Sante de Labadi/Labadee/Labadie
Population: 6,000
For months now I have been trying to get someone to look at the water purification system in Labadee - It's been there for 5 years but has never worked. The system uses 4 solar panels for UV purification, but two panels have been smashed from a fallen tree. I also found out recently that the pump was never installed (miscommunications with donor and village) and subsequently never was able to be used.
They have fortunately only had 4 cholera cases there so far, but the potential of an outbreak is huge. The whole community use 'la source' to drink, bathe and do laundry, with houses further up the mountain using the river for toileting. All of the 3 schools have bucket filters supplied by Vwa Ayiti, but nothing for the general population.
Oxfam would not send an engineer to look at the system as they said it was out of their area.
Labadee is a fishing village so its is easy to reach by boat. It's a 30 min drive plus a 15 min boat taptap journey from Cap.
The mayor for the village, Josue Charitable is the person to liaise with and he will be able to organise to get some people together to be trained to maintain the system.

St. Suzanne
US support of HBHH, Patricia Eddy
Population: 38,000
7 wells 6 with hand pumps, one motor pump with cistern used for drinking, cooking and cleaning (3 recently repaired)
School well - no water for most of the 3 years it's been there. Instead, they capture rain water with buckets.
No way to consistently treat water - had aquatabs provided by CHHN (us) but nothing now.
Electricity: solar power with 12v battery provides electricity for clinic, church and nuns' house. Some buildings have generators, but no EDH (gov electricity) in area.
Reason: they are in need of safe water to drink and cook with as have previously been hit hard by cholera in this area.
Patricia Eddy is very keen to get a water system in place at the clinic to provide for clinic and school as neither facility have easy access to water (nearest well 15 min walk). There is a secured location at the back of the clinic.

Limonade (Sonje Ayiti)
Population 48,000
Gaby Vincent is a Haitien American lady who is president of Sonje Ayiti. Along with agricultural and other projects, they also do health promotion, which has been magnified since the cholera outbreak. They have ORPs (oral rehydration points) set up across the region to educate the community on hand washing, and giving out aquatabs, chlorox and ors. She is a well-needed advocate for the region and is keen to get access to safe drinking water for the communes. Limonade is a big region, with a total population of 48,000. Bois de Lance
is one commune which makes up about half of the population. There are 60 wells in the whole of Limonade, 25 in Bois de Lance , some with hand pumps, some with no pumps. Cima is a much smaller commune, which only has one well, with no cover and no pump. This happens to also be where 15 orphans from the earthquake are residing amongst the community. They have no access to clean water, education and they are malnurished. 8 children and 8 adults have died from cholera in Cima alone. Gaby reports this is the community in greatest need.
Brief view of area: 1st rural section Basse Plaine (Bord de Mer, CIMA, Meniac, La Genivre, Bas Canal, Du Haut, Chavanneau areas), 2nd rural section of Bois de Lance where half the population of Limonade lives (22,000 inhabitants), and the 3rd rural section Roucou, then Limonade.

Pilette
(US contact Mary Lou Larkin)
Population 8,000 mountanous region
2 wells, with hand pumps and fresh water source for drinking and cooking. No access to purified water except aquatabs and chlorox from CHHN. Down river from source is used for laundry and bathing.
Reason: they have difficulty in accessing clean water. "It's a major service to the population." They are requesting a system for clinic and use for general population - they have a secured area in back yard of clinic.

Roche-Platt
(US contact Mary Lou Larkin)
Population 10,000 mountainous region.
4 wells including one in back yard of clinic (not secure location at present but can build wall).
All have hand pumps. Also have natural source which serves about 50% of population.

Ranquitte (info from Ben da West Clinic, in touch with community leader)
Population: 21,000 in 3 sections
8 pumps all with hand pumps in one section, but some are broken - they weren't sure about the other sections.
The clinic give out aquatabs and chlorox when they have them available.
There is a natural source in the mountainous area.
Reason: to protect the population from diseases.

Bahon
(information from ICC clinic and St Joseph's church clinic)
Population: 60,000
There is a large resevoir of untreated water connected to a pipe system that takes the water to about 10% of houses. Individuals pay for installation but not for water.
Those without this use water either from:
River - which people use for toileting too.
'Public water' resevoir of captured water. This is free but again, untreated.
Reason: There is no access to treated water so people that can affor to are obligued to come to Cap to buy water. The area is very mountainous with limite access to any water at all. The river is a very unclean source as people use it for both drinking and toileting.
The clinics have access to piped water but not purified.

Port Margot
(inofrmation from ICC and St. Malachy Clinic)
Population: 45,000
The majority of people use the source or the river, or dig holes next to the river for drinking water. The river is also used for toileting.
There are about 30-40 wells, all with hand pumps but are not used for drinking.
The few that can afford have access to bought, purified water in bags or large blue 'gallon' containers (80gds for 'gallon')
Both clinics have a well with a motor pump but no purification.
'Hope Fountains' installed a chlorine filter at ?St Theresa's School last week. Don't know if they are planning further work in the area.

Bar Limbe
(information from ICC Clinic)
Population: 20,000
natural source used for drinking water
One public well with hand pump - not used for drinking
Access to bought 'gallons' and bags (30gds and 60gds respectively)

Robillard
World Water Missions have installed purification system. People walk up to 2km to access the water.

Caracol
(information from St. Elizabeth Health Centre)
Population: >5,000
5-6 wells
Awaiting more information

Jacquesyl
(information from Jacquesyl Community Health Centre)
Population: 3,000
Have a water tower which pumps water from well which community bought 6 months ago. It is inconsistantly treated by cholorine and aquatabs, when available (rarely). Community charged 5gds/bucket for this whether it is treated or not.
There is also a water well with hand pump, not treated.
Report noone drinks from river.

Danda
(information from Danda Dispensary)
Population: 6,000
There are two hand pumped welss which are the main source of drinking water (untreated).
The river is mainly used to bath and do laundry.
The school have two small bucket fliters for water purification, but would benefit from more as have over 400 pupils.
The two wells are in the centre of town, near the school, church and clinic. The river is less than 100m away.

Cotelette
(near St. Suzanne)
Population: 4,800
No wells-have tried drilling but no water.
Use the natural source only. No access to purified water.

Borgne
(information from Borgne Health Centre)
No information on population size but many mountainous villages in region eg Tibouk, Petit Bouk, Ml Bouk, Malbourgne, Trou dans fait, Cote de fait, Chapay (probably all spelt incorrectly)
Fresh source used in all places.
Oxfam present in Tibouk - providing aquatabs and ORS. Give to families, not at water source.

St. Raphael
Population: 8000
Resevoir of water owned by mayor/government with pipe system to some houses. However, road was dug up 1 month ago which has cut the access to this water. People were paying 150gds per month for the service.
Other sources: the natural source and one well with hand pump.
wells are difficult to install as it is thick, mountainous rock.
Aquatabs only way to treat the water - don't always have access to them.
Reason: to prevent deaths and illnesses.

Dondon
(Information from Centre de Dante de Dondon)
Population: 10,000
Mayor owns resevoir with pipe system. Due to low supply of water relative to number of houses, the water is give to different sections of the community each day, therefore access to each house every 2 days. Pipe system only goes to about 10% of population. Pay 100gds/month for this, and water untreated.
Those who cannot afford this use the natural source.

Gobert
Population: 5000 mountainous region
most people use natural source and the river to drink from. there is piped water from a resevoir for those that can afford it, but they often go a couple of months without access, ?reason. There is no access to treated water.
The catholic Church (Notre Dame de Miracles, US group) distributed bio sand filters 2-3 years ago to houses, and have a water comittee which overseas the use.
Mayor no: 37763170
WWM already working here.

Grand Basin
(information from Centre de Sante de Notre Dame du Lourdes)
Population: 14,000
About 200 people have access to water pipes, but not given everyday (rota in place to allow access to greater number of houses)
About 10 natural sources in area
Water project: ?Fonhtut' from PAP installed the pipes in 1987. Not treated. Is still working but needs maintanance and not enough water to supply everyone.
Mayor no: 37780512

Soufriere
US support of Meike
No wells, river and source is the only access to water. Very remote town in mountainous region.
SIFAT are in contact with Colas for this area.

Shada
Population 30-60,000
Slum district of Cap Haitien
SOIL NGO supporting Shada but focusing their projects more on dry toileting
Many wells, mainly with no pump.
Next to brackish river, used for toileting.
Have tuff tanks to store non-purified water for hand washing next to SOIL toilets
SIFAT already working with Shada. issued 3 small systems (<100 people per system) and will be continuing to work to improve access to purified water throughout.

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Visit to Caracol clinic and beach

As part of my recent visit to the north, last Friday I went with Juline and new Network supporter DJail Chovsky to visit the village of Caracol, where we have a Network member clinic supported by the priest, Father du Village. They lost their social service doctor in November, and we have been trying to find ways of helping this clinic. One of the projects is to include this seaside village on the itinerary of the Floating Doctors medical team coming to the north in March.
Father du Village was away this past week, so we met with Mdm Michelene Jerome, one of 2 nurses that run the clinic. She took us on a little tour, while also taking care of a young woman in labor. The clinic has several rooms, some newly arrived x-ray equipment, and a lab.
We also went down to the lovely beach that is a launch site for several fishing boats. We were directed to Msr Jackson Cadet, head of the fisherman's organization called Brigade Maritime in Action. We briefed him on Floating Doctors, which he is happy to cooperate with, and obtained his phone number to send to the crew of Southern Wind so they can make contact. 

Ted Kaplan, MD[gallery]

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Camp-louise visit!

We (Juline, Hannah, and I) had a trip to Camp-Louise on the Northwest of Cap Haitien yesterday, 28th of Feb, to check on how the clinic is running and how we can help.
There are four nurses, four health agents and a basic pharmacy with no Lab and no Doctors. We informed them of the upcoming arrival of Floating Doctors, and explained how they can help the clinic. We also discussed how we can help them access the Albendazole program as they currently only give it out as treatment.
They are running five days a week Monday to Friday from 8:AM to 2:PM and they receive 120 to 180 patients a month. They are also registered with the MSPP.

Cholera at Camp-Louise Clinic
They've received 20 patients in total since the epidemic started in Haiti, but they don't keep patients over night they give them the first aid and refer them to the nearest CTC, in Limbe, and the patient's family are responsible for the transportation expenses. There have been no deaths at their clinic at all. They would benefit from having more ORS In stock.

Water Situation
The clinic that has a bucket with a little filter to purify the water that an Organisation gave them but they forgot the name. There is one well with a hand pump at the clinic. The population estimation of Camp-Louise is 5,800 people with more than 20 wells, all with hand pumps, but the one near the clinic and the church I've been told is the one that is used most. We will ask the floating Doctors to investigate options to help purify the water for the community.

Maxime Louissaint and Hannah Steadman
Cap Haitien Health Network
34411546
38922129