VERMONT HAITI PROJECT NEWS

March 31, 2009

FULL-TIME MEDICAL CLINIC IN DESAB

     Thanks to financial backing from The Keane Foundation and other generous donors, the Vermont Haiti Project has succeeded in establishing a regularly operating medical clinic in the remote village of Desab.

     Working in partnership with Fenel Jean and Eunice Tassone of HASWEP, the clinic began operations in November, serving Desab and the neighboring villages.  The clinic operates twice weekly, headed by Dr. Dorcelus, a physician who grew up in the region and currently practices medicine in the nearby town of Cabaret. Also on staff are a nurse, two health care assistants and a lab technician, with plans to add a part-time dentist.

     “Things are going better than we could have expected,” raved Augusta Wilson who, along with her husband Tim Singer, helped to setup the clinic for the Vermont Haiti Project and HASWEP.  “The dedication from the medical staff is amazing.  One day while we were there, the road was impassable due to heavy rains, but the Doctor still arrived, having walked six miles- uphill- to the clinic!”

     The dream of a full-time medical clinic has been long in the works.  “For the past 20 years, a group of Vermonters- mostly health care workers- would travel to Desab,” said Singer.  “They would put on clinics and see not only how badly the community needed health care, but how far people had to walk to receive it.  And we only would come once or twice a year!”

     Now that there is a regularly operating facility, the work is just beginning.  “The community is really behind this, which is great,” said Wilson, “but there’s still so much help they need:  More medicine... beds... they don’t even have a latrine.”

     The Vermont Haiti Project will continue to support this effort in hopes of building a sustainable operation.  If you, or someone you know is interested in donating or helping out, please CONTACT US.