As I write this message my heart is full because I just got off a phone with the medical team in Haiti.
My heart is full despite the chaos and the unflattering images projecting out of Haiti. My heart is full as I met with the medical team — Natacha, Wilner, Dr. Jeff, and Miss Macdala — to brainstorm on converting our clinic in Zorangé into a community hospital.
I was able to meet with both the Medical team and School leadership on video through Starlink satellite service! Wilner was able to get service established at all the buildings (school, clinic, dorm, church, and the radio station). This is incredible.
A moment from the call that stood out was when one of us said “our clinic” and Dr. Jeff corrected us by saying “we no longer call our place a clinic – it is now a hospital! ” Joy and excitement was in the air on the call!
They’ve done a lot of work to prepare and transition the clinic to start receiving patients to stay overnight / multiple nights and days. It is not without challenge. They wanted to open this month, but due to the transportation issues from Port au Prince to Bainet, there are some emergency medications that they really need, but they don’t have them yet. They can only get them from Port-au-Prince. We will continue in our efforts. Additional great news: the medical team has expanded lab services to include chemistry!
I wanted to send this quick update because I know we’re all super upset at what we’re seeing on TV coming from Haiti. This message is meant to remind you and all of us that it is bad, but we’re hopeful.
We’re providing and expanding medical services to our community. Both Miss Macdala and Dr. Jeff said, passionately, that once we’re open, people don’t have to travel 4 hours on motorcycle to go over mountains to the other clinics – we can serve them right here. They know there will be cases that they will still have to refer to other locations, but they believe they will be able to handle the non-life threatening ones that they often see. They’ll no longer have to refer somewhere else because they didn’t have the set up to keep them.
Thank you all so much for your steadfast support and collaboration. I know I can’t wait to go to Haiti, but seeing the team’s face on a video call and planning for a hospital opening flooded my heart with excitement and I know it will yours too!
Have a great day all!
— Jean Elade Eloi
Founder, Hope for Haiti Foundation
