Director's Update From Haiti

Dear Friends,

I'm writing to you from Haiti with a very brief update and an invitation to join us on June 4 for the second annual Maine Walks for Haiti walk/run. While Haiti hasn't been in the news as much recently, people in Cap-Haitien are still struggling

 with wrenching poverty and shortages as well as the ongoing cholera epidemic. A substantial amount of the international funding that we read about has been delayed pending announcement of results of the runoff presidential election; the preliminary results for which were announced this week. It is too early to know the longer-term implications of it all, but there is at least a transient sense of hope for a better future. Through all of the ups and downs of recent times, our work continues, as always, unabated.

This week, for instance, we have six volunteers from the U.S. here, including specialists in nursing, women's health, and public health, all working with their Haitian counterparts to strengthen different aspects of the health system. The nurses are giving lectures in the nursing school, and working on developing educational materials with hospital nurses. The women's health group is following up on past family planning and maternal mortality reduction work, and strategizing with the Ministry of Health and others on how to increase the impact. And the Public Health group is working on developing a referral resource guide of for use by our health agents. Here is a sampling of a few other things that are also currently happening. There will be much more to follow in the May newsletter.

Cholera: While forecasts about the duration and severity of the epidemic vary, cholera is expected to be in the environment and threaten lives in Haiti for the foreseeable future. The good news is that the numbers and severity of new cases is down from the incredibly high levels even a couple of months ago. In Cap-Haitien where we work, the focus is shifting from treatment to prevention and the development of a backup plan in case there is a spike in severe cases again. Konbit Sante, with Haiti Hospital Appeal (HHA), is currently staffing 59 oral rehydration posts in the communities where we work, where health workers educate about hand washing, water testing and disinfection, and provide early intervention (oral rehydration) for symptomatic people. Responsibility for the ongoing management of these posts will soon be transitioned to the Ministry of Health "cholera brigades."

Sanitation: We have two important sanitation projects underway at the Justinian Hospital. These have been on our wish list for a long time, as any of you who have been in Haiti with us will understand. The first is a project to improve collection and removal of solid waste (everything that comes out of the wards and the operating rooms). A $25,000 grant from MINUSTAH (United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti) will remove current debris, clean the area, build a structure to store the waste, and provide easy access by trucks to remove the waste rather than burning it. A second project, funded by the World Health Organization, will demolish the old pit latrines behind the hospital (the only facilities for many patients and families) and replace them with two, more hygienic, 4-stall latrines designed by some of our volunteer engineers. This $52,000 grant from WHO will also fund the building of two 4-stall showers for patients and families, and the laundry facility will be renovated and improved.

Spinal Cord Rehab: Work has started on the building the Spinal Cord Rehab Center that we began working on with our partners Haiti Hospital Appeal after the earthquake, when the need became so evident. This will be the first and only such facility in Northern Haiti, and we hope that it will be open in a few months.

Staff Changes: In Haiti, Dr. Youseline Telemaque, formerly head of our Women's Health team, has become our In-Country Program Manager. Upon assuming the new responsibilities, Dr. Telemaque had to deal immediately with the cholera epidemic in Cap-Haitien. She has been widely acknowledged for her superb leadership and early and aggressive action in addressing this scourge. We are very pleased and proud to have her be the face of Konbit Sante day-in and day-out in the community and with other partners here.

In Maine, we are happy to welcome Victoria Broadbent, MBA, as our new Office Manager. Victoria comes to us with extensive financial and business background and skill-set, which will help strengthen our management as the scope and complexity of our work increases. This combined with an irrepressible enthusiasm for our work makes her a great addition to Konbit Sante.

Members of Our Haitian Team Visit Maine in May: Several members of the Konbit Sante Haiti team - Dr. Youseline Telemaque (In-Country Program Manager), Dr. Marie-Carmelle Leconte (Haiti Board Member) , and Jose Raymour (Administrator) - will visit Maine in May to participate in strategic planning meetings. We look forward to their visit.

All the best from Haiti,

Nathan M. Nickerson, RN,DrPH

Executive Director