The team included me and Becky Blanton from Indiana and Chis Rodenbough and Fletcher Knight from North Carolina. Our primary missions were to make repairs on the trucks and install the replacement solar panels, replace the water tower pump and repair refrigerators and freezers in the Doctor’s residence and the guest house. We also faced challenges not expected, such as no water in the town. (We get our water from their well) which we evaluated and suggested a solution and the water was back on 2 days before we left.
An additional factor was that we would be working with the new Haitian administration. We worked out methods for them to document expenditures and set up an account for us to transfer funds. We must emphasize accountability.
The hospital currently has 4 doctors, several nurses and lab techs. The 20-30 village health care workers were working well and a new satellite health care facility was currently being built in Bwadlorenz. There was also a new security guard in the courtyard at night who would be effective against theft of our equipment.
I have been taking teams in since 1995 and am very encouraged by the commitment of the current personnel and leadership. I believe we can nurture a very effective partnership and fulfill needs that are currently unfunded, medicine, repairs and maintenance and nutrition. If we can succeed in these areas we can consider expansion into other projects. We must remember that Haiti is the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere, so their medical programs are likewise underfunded. Positive changes are taking place in Mombin Crochu and the rest of the plateau.
Blessings
Al Atz
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