Most make a living out of breaking rocks and filling a truck, which takes about one week, which produces them approximately a $15.00 US return. The whole family participates. The clinic was difficult to travel to, given the lack of roads and sleep climb, however, there were many awaiting the scheduled medical team visit, with smiles and hugs; there was so much gratitude for the treatment, even when the only medication required was vitamins. Most have not been to any type of physician even for giving birth. It was winter in Lima, and the conditions were cool, but very dusty with a high level of smog therefore, we had most patients with upper respiratory or sinus issues.

On the third day the team traveled over the mountains via small plane, and landed in Tarapoto, a small but busy city, then rode a bus for over four hours up then down that previously would take over a day until the German government cut out the new paved road last year. We arrived in Yuramaguas, the closest city to the Amazon border which was populated by mostly Chaiweata Indian tribes. The town bustled with ‘rickshaw’ type of bicycles and motorbikes that seemed to be an invention of necessity for the narrow roads and lack of fuel.

From the local orphanage called ‘Mother’s Home’ which has been in place for approximately eight years under MVI, the team went out daily to local sites and ran free clinics for the population locally. The weather here was very hot and most people were dehydrated and usually had some type of worm or parasite, therefore, everyone was automatically treated prophylactically. The water sources they drink from are used collectively for bathing, washing and also contain the drained sewage from residents.

This part of the country is in desperate need of infrastructure. There were signs of growth and help coming from outside investors, however there were negative aspects, as in the destruction of the rain forest for planting of palm oil plants for prophet by monopolies. Local farmers are being forced or threatened out of the area. The team then traveled two separate days into the finger lakes of the Amazon, the first was by trucks and four by fours into native tribal locations to provide remote clinics. These were the most amazing days of the trip by far, as the flood waters kept the team from traveling beyond that area, where 50-100 of the local natives were anticipating the clinic. It was necessary to stop just under a mile beforehand, in an open area where a small group of Indians were settled. It was a Catholic holiday, and a day off for all, therefore the male chief did not wish to allow any activity. After several hours of negotiations, the clinic was set up across the way in sheds where some local construction workers were staying. The workers bartered for use of their large vehicles to cross the thigh high currents and make repeated trips to those who were anxiously awaiting medical assistance. Over 200 people were seen that day, including the local chief’s family, who compromised after seeing so many from the neighboring village receiving attention. The next day we took a three hour hollowed out boat ride upstream to another tribal village and held clinic in a school building with the remotest people living in Peru. There was a child there who had been one of the first housed in the orphanage. She looked well nourished and living with family who were visiting the local tribe relatives. Quite a success story!

During the week, a three year old boy, later identified as Neurvo, was brought to the orphanage by local police, indicating there was abuse; he weighed less than 12 lbs, and apparently was being taken care of by a sibling after his mother’s death. He had obvious bruising and could not hold his own weight as his legs were just skin on bone. One of the team nurses and doctor went late to the orphanage to examine him, and feared he would not live the night; the nurse stayed overnight, then traveled to the nearest hospital in the morning with the child. Antibiotics and vitamins were given, with feeding in small amounts frequently for the next four days at the home.

Overall, there were more than 450 Peruvian people who were given care through the clinics, many who had significant problems that were referred to the local hospitals as possible. As the team pulled away from the home for our final time back down the mountain, Neurvo smiled as we left, standing on his own, and we all knew why we had been called to Peru. Less…

Father Tom Streit of Notre Dame University has lived with the Haitian people for 18 years. He was there the day of the quake and collapsed along with the hotel he was in at the time. He has watched and helped the people of Leogane pick up their lives and continue on. This seems a difficult task given that there was rubble everywhere we turned and Father Tom’s estimate is that the area of the epicenter near Leogane is 30% cleared away. There is so much more to do – so much to rebuild in homes, families and futures.

Hospital Sainte Croix in Leogane was the center of health care for the people in the area. The former 120-bed hospital is currently inoperable and needs to be rebuilt. Presently, World Wide Village and the Notre Dame/Haiti project have set up a well functioning, temporary field hospital in Leogane not far from the crippled HSC. Thanks to the monetary funding and the volunteer coordination of the WWV, the hospital is well staffed. WWV hires both professional and support staff of native Haitians who work together with medical volunteers from the US.

WWV runs an onsite clinic seven days a week, as well as an emergency room, inpatient/post-op area, obstetrics unit, and a pharmacy. There is an operating room which is at capacity for surgeries whenever the volunteer teams are staffed with a surgeon and anesthetist. The volunteers and Haitian professionals work very well as a team. Patients come from a wide geographic area, often walking 4-5 miles in mud and rubble to arrive at the clinic for care. The staff diagnosed and treated cases of children and adults with parasites, malaria, diphtheria, dengue fever, oozing open sores as well as common ear and throat infections and minor lacerations. These conditions are common, but very serious, and very treatable with access to proper diagnosis and medication.

The post for my week in Haiti was the obstetrics unit at the makeshift HSC. We saw many patients for prenatal care, averaging 45 patients a day. We saw many malnourished mothers and babies. Prenatal care including vitamins, nutrition reinforcement and frequent monitoring of pregnancies is high priority. Our delivery room was an army cot farthest from the door where mothers labored and delivered. I found it difficult to assist in the delivery. I could not imagine being the person doing the laboring in such circumstances. Two healthy babies were delivered in week 19. Patients are given birth control if requested and many young women are saved from life threatening hemorrhage after trying to induce a chemical miscarriage with over the counter home remedies.

Before I traveled to Haiti, I wondered if our time would be well spent and we would be helpful enough to the Haitian people. My concerns increased tenfold after seeing the devastation between Port au Prince and Leogane. I am now 100% certain that the contribution of the WWV/Notre Dame-Haiti project is necessary and invaluable for the people we served. It is essential to continue employing local Haitians, and bringing medical volunteers to the country so the two groups may work together for a better future. Less…