photos - medical clinics - part 1

We give the Lord thanks that Dr. Karen McCarthy and a medical team could come to Haiti to hold a series of clinics. 3 clinics were held here at Coram Deo, 1 in Cite Soleil and 1 near Pastor Senord's church in Petionville.

1,200 people were seen at all the clinic sites.

Info and blood pressure, temperatures were noted at the registration table.

This was Dr. Timmy's first visit to Haiti. She was one of the doctors consulting patients.

Teachers from Sherri's Christian Light School provided translations for the doctors.

photos - medical clinics - part 2

The medical team had a well-stocked pharmacy!

We handed out Georgetown Hoya basketball cards with numbers written on the back and used them as entrance tickets to the clinic. This girl is patient #56. We received a donation of a whole case of cards and figured out that this would be a unique way to use them.

Tim brought this truckload of people back to the village of Merjer which is located on Rte. 9.

Mother and daughter patiently waited to be seen.

This father and son are both happy people. He was thankful for the medical care that was received.

photos - medical clinics - part 3

This boy came to the clinic with an infection or something on his lips.

This girl is one of the "lost children" who is an earthquake orphan. She stepped on a sharp piece of steel and needed some stitches.

These young children are enjoying the riding toys. This is part of our clinic waiting room!

This mother is waiting for some medicine for her baby. A lot of worried mothers brought their babies to the clinic because they are sleeping outside. There are a lot of respiratory illnesses, and fevers going around.

These children are twins who are only 3 months old. They were born 1 month premature and at 3 months of age only weigh 6 pounds. Naphtalie is thriving better that Naphtalia. Dorothy of Faith, Hope, Love Infant Rescue is now looking after them for awhile because the mother isn't able to care for them properly. Pray for her efforts.

photos - medical clinics - part 4

Jackie Bultje and Kim Bos are both sisters and they enjoyed feeding and holding the twins.

Sunday afternoon, a couple of Canadian soldiers came by to visit the children and brought some gifts too.

The children love having visitors!

Manu enjoyed looking through the scope from their rifle.

Benson is getting to be just like any other American/Canadian child. He is learning how to use a skateboard! Next is learning to roller blade and play hockey!

photos - medical clinics - part 5

We have a chicken problem. The poultry refuse to stay outside and the hen laid an egg in the medical teams' pharmacy supplies. I told everyone that the poultry needs to move.

Karen Bosma is fluent in creole and helped to translate at the registration clinic.

This elderly lady is explaining to the doctor what is wrong with her.

Dr. Karen did a minor surgery on the church pew.

This elderly lady came in at the end of the clinic and begged to be seen. She told me that her ears don't hear so good anymore and her eyes don't see so well either. She was a sweet lady and she was seen by the medical team.

photos - medical clinics - part 6

We met Pastor Ramon a few weeks ago. He lives in the Soleil 17 area, the same area as the Maranatha church is located. This elderly woman has never attended church and he is inviting her to attend his. Pray for her that she understands the christian faith. She is 84 years old.

This is the view from the shore of Ti-Ayiti, at the back of Cite Soleil. The garbage that is there now is sad to see. The situation with the garbage has gotten a lot worse in Cite Soleil. Along the roadside there are piles of garbage waiting for garbage pickups that doesn't come. Every day the pile grows.

This grandmother brought her granddaughter to the clinic. It is a special occassion and a time to dress up in their Sunday best!

This boy was watching from the entrance to the church. He made a necklace out of elastic bands.

These children were watching from the back entrance of the church.

ARTICLE - MALARIA

CDC WARNS OF MALARIA RISK IN HAITI - MIAMI HERALD
BY FRED TASKER

The first feared cases of malaria have come to Haiti, weeks before the start of its next rainy season in May, and health officials are concerned that the deadly disease could become widespread.

Eleven cases confirmed among emergency personnel and Haitian residents have officials worried for them and for the more than 500,000 Haitians made homeless by the magnitude 7.0 earthquake that struck on Jan. 12.

``Displaced persons living outdoors or in temporary shelters and thousands of emergency responders in Haiti are at substantial risk for malaria,'' said a report Thursday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Carried by mosquitoes, the P.falciparum strain of malaria ``causes the most severe disease and highest mortality, and is the predominant species in Haiti,'' the CDC says.

Each year, Haiti has 30,000 confirmed cases of malaria, and officials believe the actual number is closer to 200,000.

Haiti's next rainy season doesn't start until May. But heavy rains came early in the southeastern city of Les Cayes on Feb. 28, creating floods that killed eight people.

The 11 cases so far include:
• Seven emergency responders, including six military.
• Three Haitian residents who traveled to the United States, including one Haitian adoptee.
• One U.S. traveler.

The six military members had been given the required oral preventative, dosycycline, plus insect repellent and insecticide-treated netting and uniforms. But two of them reported they had not adhered to the recommended preventive measures.

Of the 11 cases, four were uncomplicated and treated in Haiti. Two were moderate to serious and were transferred to the United States for intensive care. One needed intubation and mechanical ventilation for acute respiratory distress syndrome, the CDC said.

All are expected to make a full recovery.

According to the CDC, ``People who get malaria are typically very sick with high fevers, shaking chills and flu-like illness. Although malaria can be a deadly disease, illness and death can usually be prevented.''

For Haiti's strain of malaria, the standard treatment is chloroquine. No patient in Haiti treated with it has died, the CDC said.

People planning to travel to Haiti should start prevention measures at least a week before traveling, the CDC says, with one of the following: atrovaquone-proguanil, chloroquine, dioxycyline or mefloquine. But such preventive medicines are not totally effective, so travelers also should use mosquito repellent, wear protective clothing and sleep under an insecticide-treated mosquito net.