Before I worked as a clinic adminstrator in Haiti, I participated in two medical mission trips 
with friends and colleagues from my church. One of those individuals - Dr. Chris - headed down to Haiti soon after the earthquake to help with the Haiti disaster relief efforts. He has been sharing intermittent updates thought give yet another perspective of life now 3 weeks after the quake hit. The following excerpt give Chris' first impressions of post-quake Haiti.
with friends and colleagues from my church. One of those individuals - Dr. Chris - headed down to Haiti soon after the earthquake to help with the Haiti disaster relief efforts. He has been sharing intermittent updates thought give yet another perspective of life now 3 weeks after the quake hit. The following excerpt give Chris' first impressions of post-quake Haiti.beyond the us naval ship comfort and other navy ships anchored in the bay, flying in, port au prince looked it's
typical self - a collage of mishappen concrete structures in all phases of completion. it wasn't until we landed that things looked a bit different.
haitian flags at half staff. news crews scurring about with military helicopters buzzing to and from the airstrip. we arrived late due to multiple delays and other unforeseen scenarios causing us to leave pap at dusk. usually a big no no. actually always a bad idea as the hijacking thugs come out at night.
it wasn't but a couple miles before we ran into the typical haitian road block with baricades, fires and bon fires. the bus was turned around quickly in the narrow streets. as we left the area fortunately the un troops were making their way to the area with their lights flashing.
further along thre were rows and rows of temporary encampments lining the already narrow streets, a lean-to style tents constructed of poles/traps/plastic/sheets and lashings. no one was living indoors. the typical smiling energetic wheeling and dealing haitian was replaced with throngs of resless peoples aimlessly walking about.
as we approach carfou, the epicenter of the quake, there was a errie haunting glow in the night from from bonfires lining the roadsides and the lights of the oncoming traffic through which we could see the clouds of smoking lazily climbing out of the alley like 'highway.' we had to zig zag back and forth around housing rubble to move forward. it was as if cluttered table tops had been upended and the debris slid off piling up along side the building fronts. buildings lining the road were uprooted and appeared like the skeletonized remains of the twin towers leaning inward shadowing the road.
the stench (that seems like an irreverrant word, but it was so noxious) from the rotting flesh first reached us here. we would expereince that intense nauseating smell twice more enroute to grand guave.
i was impressed with our bluebird bus. most especially the US steel making its axles. i can't believe it continued to withstand all the abuse from the road. there were just a
few areas where it was obvious the earthquake had affected the roads. sharp edged splintered concrete and asphalt jutted up 1-2 feet in areas. after an incredibly long day
we finally arrived to our destination, grand guave, about 25 miles from the epicenter of the 7.1 magnitude quake as i found out, and 8 miles from the second, 6 magnitude.
as we pulled in 2500 haitians were living in temporary housing here as well, sheet city and all singing and dancing. it was a peculiar but inspiring site after all we had just seen. rounds on patients began when we got off the bus. more on that later. cjh
typical self - a collage of mishappen concrete structures in all phases of completion. it wasn't until we landed that things looked a bit different.
haitian flags at half staff. news crews scurring about with military helicopters buzzing to and from the airstrip. we arrived late due to multiple delays and other unforeseen scenarios causing us to leave pap at dusk. usually a big no no. actually always a bad idea as the hijacking thugs come out at night.
it wasn't but a couple miles before we ran into the typical haitian road block with baricades, fires and bon fires. the bus was turned around quickly in the narrow streets. as we left the area fortunately the un troops were making their way to the area with their lights flashing.
further along thre were rows and rows of temporary encampments lining the already narrow streets, a lean-to style tents constructed of poles/traps/plastic/sheets and lashings. no one was living indoors. the typical smiling energetic wheeling and dealing haitian was replaced with throngs of resless peoples aimlessly walking about.
as we approach carfou, the epicenter of the quake, there was a errie haunting glow in the night from from bonfires lining the roadsides and the lights of the oncoming traffic through which we could see the clouds of smoking lazily climbing out of the alley like 'highway.' we had to zig zag back and forth around housing rubble to move forward. it was as if cluttered table tops had been upended and the debris slid off piling up along side the building fronts. buildings lining the road were uprooted and appeared like the skeletonized remains of the twin towers leaning inward shadowing the road.
the stench (that seems like an irreverrant word, but it was so noxious) from the rotting flesh first reached us here. we would expereince that intense nauseating smell twice more enroute to grand guave.
i was impressed with our bluebird bus. most especially the US steel making its axles. i can't believe it continued to withstand all the abuse from the road. there were just a
few areas where it was obvious the earthquake had affected the roads. sharp edged splintered concrete and asphalt jutted up 1-2 feet in areas. after an incredibly long day
we finally arrived to our destination, grand guave, about 25 miles from the epicenter of the 7.1 magnitude quake as i found out, and 8 miles from the second, 6 magnitude.
as we pulled in 2500 haitians were living in temporary housing here as well, sheet city and all singing and dancing. it was a peculiar but inspiring site after all we had just seen. rounds on patients began when we got off the bus. more on that later. cjh
If you are still looking for a way to donate to Haiti, in a way that will help with the medical needs sure to persist for many years to come, consider the Visitation Hospital Foundation. They operate a full functioning clinic in Haiti, with plans to expand to a full surgurical center. Your dollars will go to buy medicines, pay for lab tests and provide healthcare to over 200,000 patients annually.
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