Making a Healthplan for Life for Haitian Children

The last three months have been preparation months for Sustainable Healthcare for Haiti.

Our Board Member, Lyris, spent several weeks in Haiti, where she was able to review with Foundation Montesinos the progress that our healthcare delivery partners, PoumonTEK, have made with the children. Despite a difficult rainy season that washed out the main bridge that accesses the site, PoumonTEK was able to visit the site twice. The first time, the healthcare providers developed medical records from the available information (which is very minimal). The second visit, the nurses were able to see all 90 children and begin the evaluation of their health. Sadly, they suffer from what would otherwise be easily manageable health problems, were they in a country like the US. Their dental hygiene is poor which can lead to several medical problems, many have asthma and a few have more serious illnesses. Very few have ever had any vaccinations.

Lyris was able to confirm the availability of internet at the site as well.

Other preparation are underway by three of our Board Members, Gerard, Neil and Lee.  They are preparing for a three day trip to Haiti this summer and for two main goals- to run the design charrette with the children, and to survey the site selected for the Sho-Ping Clinic for Healthcare and Education. Pictures of the site are included below.

The design charrette is meant to allow the children to participate in what they feel a place of well-being would look like so they feel a sense of ownership of the building and therefore their health future. We hope to engage the students in visualizing their environment and future clinic by using graphic tools that are appropriate for different age brackets. This can also be an educational opportunity, teaching the students about drafting concepts and conventions. Lee and Gerard will lead this effort and will have both still and video cameras to capture the process.

Lee, Neil and Gerard will also use a combination of surveying and measuring tools to survey the site, and even possibly employ a drone for aerial photos. This is sure to delight the children.

Back in the US, Board Members Miriam and Margaret will meet with PoumonTEK at their offices in Miami to review the data collected to date and establish the next year's operational and healthcare goals for the children.

Board Members Amy, Carolyn and Cassie are also working over the summer to prepare our next fundraiser which will be an Architectural and Engineering Trivia Night. Our goal is to raise another $10,000 for the remainder of the construction work that needs to be done on the Sho-Ping Clinic Building as well as another $5,000 to run a comprehensive dental hygiene course, screening and provider visit for all the children.

We are at a very crucial moment in our work. We have recently received some very generous donations and are so close to being able to launch all aspects of our project. Please consider making a donation this year and passing this report onto anyone who may be interested in supporting us.

Happy summer to all!