A few weeks ago, I had the unique opportunity to travel to Haiti and participate in medical work with the medical and dental mission, Friends of the Children. I had been planning the trip for over a year, and I consider it is a miracle that it was not cancelled when the earthquake hit. Up to the week of the trip itself, I was told repeatedly that travel to Haiti was impossible with its destruction and violence. Almost everyone I encountered discouraged my trip because it was “too dangerous,” “chaotic,” and “traumatizing.” To my good fortune, however, the trip was sustained and I was able to experience the most incredible week of my life.
We traveled to Jacmel, a city in Southern Haiti that was completely devastated by the earthquake. Although my trip took place 6 weeks after the quake, I failed to witness any evidence of relief effort or rebuilding in Jacmel. The people I encountered in the clinic were extremely malnourished and anemic. Many had intestinal parasites, scabies, and diarrheal diseases due to the horrible sanitization conditions in their temporary housing. Interestingly, I saw a lot of post-traumatic stress and a generalized state of fear in the Haitian people. The majority of the people I saw refused to enter any sort of building because of the ever-present aftershocks. Even those whose houses survived the earthquake chose to sleep in tents because of their constant fear. While sleeping in a tent myself, I felt two of these aftershocks.
While I was in Haiti, I tried to learn as much as possible about the people, their culture, and their current living situation. I spoke to them in French and Creole, toured their houses, attended community gatherings and church, and played with the children after clinic closed. Overall, the Haitian people that I encountered are incredibly kind, grateful, and loving people. Although they were malnourished and shockingly poor, they would bring us baskets of food from their gardens as thanks for our services. The villagers made a special effort to greet us at mass and thank us. At a village dance, the people welcomed us and taught us traditional Haitian dancing and games. I also witnessed incredible dedication and self-sacrifice by the Haitian people for their loved ones. With the overwhelming child and orphan population in Haiti, it was common to see distant family members, friends, and even young siblings caring for children.
Although I was there for only a week, I feel that I am a part of Haiti. The welcome and love I experienced there was overwhelming, especially in the midst of Haiti’s poverty, devastation, and tragedy. I am looking forward to returning, hopefully in September, to continue my friendships and care for the wonderful people I met. In the meantime, I hope to develop an educational class for the midwife’s in the Jacmel area, which I would like to implement during my next visit. The maternal and infant mortality rates in Haiti are astonishing, and need to be addressed. Also, I am actively raising money for the group I will return to Jacmel with. Until then, Haiti will be in my heart and prayers, and serve as a constant reminder for why I want to be a physician and serve the most desperate and needy of our world.
We traveled to Jacmel, a city in Southern Haiti that was completely devastated by the earthquake. Although my trip took place 6 weeks after the quake, I failed to witness any evidence of relief effort or rebuilding in Jacmel. The people I encountered in the clinic were extremely malnourished and anemic. Many had intestinal parasites, scabies, and diarrheal diseases due to the horrible sanitization conditions in their temporary housing. Interestingly, I saw a lot of post-traumatic stress and a generalized state of fear in the Haitian people. The majority of the people I saw refused to enter any sort of building because of the ever-present aftershocks. Even those whose houses survived the earthquake chose to sleep in tents because of their constant fear. While sleeping in a tent myself, I felt two of these aftershocks.
While I was in Haiti, I tried to learn as much as possible about the people, their culture, and their current living situation. I spoke to them in French and Creole, toured their houses, attended community gatherings and church, and played with the children after clinic closed. Overall, the Haitian people that I encountered are incredibly kind, grateful, and loving people. Although they were malnourished and shockingly poor, they would bring us baskets of food from their gardens as thanks for our services. The villagers made a special effort to greet us at mass and thank us. At a village dance, the people welcomed us and taught us traditional Haitian dancing and games. I also witnessed incredible dedication and self-sacrifice by the Haitian people for their loved ones. With the overwhelming child and orphan population in Haiti, it was common to see distant family members, friends, and even young siblings caring for children.
Although I was there for only a week, I feel that I am a part of Haiti. The welcome and love I experienced there was overwhelming, especially in the midst of Haiti’s poverty, devastation, and tragedy. I am looking forward to returning, hopefully in September, to continue my friendships and care for the wonderful people I met. In the meantime, I hope to develop an educational class for the midwife’s in the Jacmel area, which I would like to implement during my next visit. The maternal and infant mortality rates in Haiti are astonishing, and need to be addressed. Also, I am actively raising money for the group I will return to Jacmel with. Until then, Haiti will be in my heart and prayers, and serve as a constant reminder for why I want to be a physician and serve the most desperate and needy of our world.
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