Want to witness compassion in action with me? Okay, you are going to need some things: a water bottle, hat, bandana, sunscreen, a heavy backpack full of medical supplies … what else? Oh, yeah – some really good boots because we will be walking. Did you pack a flashlight? We might not be getting back until late and there is no electricity for street lights. Did I mention that we will be in the mountains of rural Haiti?
Don’t worry, we won’t be alone. We will be walking with (or should I say trying to keep up with) a group of Haitian doctors, nurses and public health workers who are part of the Mobile Clinic that sets out twice a month to bring much needed medical and preventative care to people who would otherwise not be served. As soon as we arrive, our team will set up where there will be one hundred or more people already waiting under trees or in the hot sun. Malnourished children will receive nutrition, vitamins and immunizations; adults will be tested for HIV, TB and STDs and will receive treatment and counseling. Pregnant women will be monitored. Patients will be examined in a small hut, where the Haitian doctor will dispense medications with instructions for follow-up. The bustle won’t stop until every patient is seen. That means EVERY patient – no matter how late it is, how hot it is, how sick or seemingly hopeless they may be. If you come with me, I promise that you will be moved by the compassion and care you will witness.
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The dedication of the medical care workers who run the Mobin Hospital Mobile Clinic is remarkable. The fact that there is a mobile clinic available for the people who need it the most is a result of many generous donations that are received through Village Partners International. It costs $500 to run a clinic, that’s $1,000 a month and $12,000 a year to bring basic care to suffering individuals. It translates to about $2.00 per person. For less than what a cup of coffee costs, individuals are getting medical care that can have a lasting impact on their health. Please consider a donation to help support a resource that serves thousands of people who lack even the most fundamental care.
Terry Leigh Deal
Photo of Jennifer Reynolds, MPH, CHES, 2015
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