Our Journey to Haiti - Day 3 and 4

Day 3: Sunday in Cayes and at MN

After a night of thunderstorms (which quieted the insomniac chickens – even if temporarily), our Sunday began with church bells resounding from a nearby church. Traffic on the way to MN did not seem any quieter for a Sunday – even though most merchants are closed - but we observed people dressed in their best for church services.  We passed many churches, full of people singing, on our way to MN.

Our second day at MN was also fairly quiet.  Two babies arrived over night.  Only one expectant mother was at MN, and while she had not yet reached true labor stage, she seemed miserable nonetheless.  We longed to do more for her as she walked the grounds, but found some comfort knowing that when her delivery time came, she would be in the best hands around.

MN Outside In 

We met and visited with midwife Ms. Boulotte and nurse auxiliaire Ms. Larrieux. We learned a great deal about their work and their passion for improving the health outcomes for their community’s women. Ms. Boulotte has worked at MN for four years and Ms. Larrieux (a part-timer) started just a few months ago.

Heather with Ms. Boulotte, Ms. Larrieux in the Background

Later, the three of us donned our IT hats and installed some software and worked on updating inventory of our laptops.  It is amazing how quickly the dust and humidity wear down this equipment.  But even more impressive is how our staff effectively utilize technology in their daily activities and how eager and adept they are in learning new technology.

Visitors came and went throughout the day, bringing miscellaneous items to the postpartum mothers and offering comfort. 

Toward the end of the day, as we were wrapping up, two mothers and their babies were leaving MN.  A proud papa (or one extremely relieved that HE did not have to go through labor and delivery), bounded through the front doors of MN, his rented/borrowed transportation waiting outside.  He was literally beaming – smiling and nodding at us as he strode into the postpartum room, and emerged again with his entourage in tow.  Mom followed (still a bit fatigued) with a young girl (very happy and helpful) carrying a newborn, wrapped in blankets and a hat.  Another mother followed, again with a young girl carrying a newborn in tow.  Everyone crammed into the waiting older model Toyota SUV, except the proud papa - who jumped on the back fender, and secured himself around the spare tire for the trip home.  With a honk and many waves, the group departed through the MN gate.

After hugs and kisses goodbye to Ms. Boulotte and Miss Larrieux, and reassuring Marcelin we would indeed be back tomorrow, we piled into the extremely toasty Land Cruiser and headed to our lodgings. It has been a long but fruitful day and we feel that much was accomplished.

Quote of the Day: “These women love MN” – from Ms. Larrieux, MN’s nurse auxiliaries, about women waiting patiently.

Day 4: A Busy Monday at MN

Our day started EARLY (6:20 am), when we picked up Rosemond, our Administrator and Odine, our Lead Midwife on our way to MN. 

I made (well, tried to) a video of our journey on the national highway – which is probably the only decent road running through much of Haiti, to capture the cultural landscape that is hard to put in words. The motorcycles, the bicycles, the over-stuffed trucks and tempos that people use to get to their destinations within the region, the UN cars, the police cars, women heading to work in the morning, dressed in their best (add high heels!)… all this absolute chaos, taking place alongside the tranquil rice fields, the cows, chickens, turkeys, donkeys and the goats watching everything, the banana and coconut trees heavy with fruit, naked kids frolicking in puddles and streams- big and small at the edge of the road.. all this sheer madness and different worlds, seem to run parallel and without conflict. Nobody gets mad for cutting in front, they “maneuver!” There is a lot of honking, but no road rage, no menacing or impolite gestures – people here for the most part, like to smile and I am sure that alone keeps any unpleasantness and conflict at bay! As I said, I have tried to make a film, which I will edit and hopefully post after our return home but really, you have to be here to understand.

In sharp contrast to the calm of MN on Saturday and Sunday, Mondays at MN are packed!  Women were already waiting in the Choukounet (Creole word for waiting area) outside.  We celebrated mass with the entire staff under the leadership of Pere Alphonse (MN’s chaplain) and Rosemond. Pere Alphonse’s sermon reminded us to remember God in good times and bad times – don’t just go to God when we have problems.  People everywhere should work together and care about one another; he used MN as an example of how working together brings about good for everyone.

Patients Waiting To Be Seen by MN Staff 

A staff meeting followed, where we shared our gratitude to the staff for their service to MN and their community.  Many people wanted to then share their gratitude with us for coming, and for helping make MN possible.

We witnessed a referral leaving MN in the ambulance and Robin (MN's In-Country Director) in action across the road from MN (no cell phone reception on MN property), to find a place for the mother to go. This mom needed an operation. Staff at the General Hospital in Les Cayes just went on strike.  Robin is incredibly calm when managing the case, making call after call…determined to do all she could to make sure mother would have a healthy outcome! After many calls, a decision was made to transfer the mom to a private hospital in Cayes. One of our MN nurses went with the patient, as they usually do, along with the driver.

I interviewed Junie – HIV Nurse at MN and learned that thankfully, the instances of women contracting HIV remain low in our zone of service. She shared that the youngest mother-to-be she has seen at MN and who tested positive for HIV was 14! I gleaned from our talks with other midwives that early pregnancies are quite common here. Hopefully, with MN’s community health programs department taking family planning education and awareness to community, this practice will change.

Ms. Junie, HIV Nurse at MN

Next step was to talk with nurse auxiliare Gerlin, who is sort of a super, multi-tasking machine! She not only dispenses medicine to women from our pharmacy, she also assists with labor and delivery, post-partum care for mothers, as well as serve as an intake nurse, when the number of patients waiting outside increases. Just like today. The medicine dispensed is probably what any of us know in other countries – multivitamins, vitamin C, folic acid, painkillers…. Of course, add malaria drug to this mix! Our interpreter Clausel really earned his keep today as Gerlin talked fast and in long sentences and he had to stop her several times mid-sentence (which annoyed her) so he could translate without forgetting her previous message. She is quick to smile and quick to forgive though, so he is safe.

Patients Waiting Inside & At the Pharmacy Window

Back to our lodging where we worked few more hours with Robin (and some uninvited mosquitoes) on more topics. It is amazing how much one can focus when supplied with snickers and chilled Sprite (in glass bottles). YAY! If Robin didn’t have to go home, we would have kept going till late night. We saw an alert for tropical storm Colin and its potential to hit Haiti today/tomorrow.  Here’s to hoping it doesn’t develop into a hurricane, and stays clear of the island.  Not what Haiti needs now!

Our night ended with a delicious dinner prepared by HfH’s talented and graceful cooks - Carmen and Eveline. We had whole broiled fish, rice, a wonderfully rich stew of potatoes and carrots, and thick slices of plantains, served with fresh avocados, tomatoes, and cucumbers.  

Quote of the Day: “Family Planning is perhaps the most important service MN could provide to Haitian girls and women.” – Ms. Junie, MN’s HIV Nurse.