The medical team consisting of a nurse midwife, an ob-gyn doc and a family practice doc arrived in Duchity last Friday. After sorting and organizing 8 suitcases full of medications, they met with the local public health nurse and 6 elderly “matrons”, or lay birth attendants. They shared stories and taught techniques for safer deliveries, as well as danger signs requiring medical attention. As many as 1 in 10 women may die in childbirth in Haiti without access to medical care.
Monday and Tuesday we began our clinics, working alongside Dr. Vanette, the newly hired Haitian doctor in Duchity. She began her first day alongside us! We saw many infections, and did some cervical cancer screening and family planning along with several dozen prenatal visits. I worked with Susan in the pharmacy, explaining to patients how and why to take their medication, while giving explanations of how to do solar disinfection of their water, a practice known as SODIS. Cholera is still active in the area (although we have not seen any cases yet), and a careful review of hygiene was also done when people got their meds.
In between these activities I have been encouraging to use of composting toilets and a model of a sanItation business, to encourage an entrepreneurial business. Only when toilets are really valued in the community, and accessible to all, will they be widely used and have a significant health impact. But every journey starts with the first step.
Tomorrow is our last clinic day before we visit some local ‘hot spots’ and return to Port au Prince. More later…
