A Short Walk - January 20

Trying to write this every night after being on your feet for most of the day is a challenge. It would be more manageable if it could actually be posted to the Internet. None the less I will try to collect a few reflection and highlights for each day.

We are supposed to leave at 7am but it is closer to 7:30 before all the interpretors arrive and the truck is packed. One interpretor reported that his bicycle had a flat tire, I tend to believe him. Once everything is pack we are off. It is 40 minute drive to where the trucks have to stop. From there we have 30 minute hike to St. Terese. In true Haitian form it is describe to us as a flat hike in the mountains. Fortunately we have a fleet of donkeys reserved to bring the drugs equipment. With a dental clinic this is no small feat.

Our 30 minute hike is closer to 40 minutes over rolling and twisting terrain. The sky is clear and the temperature is comfortable, so we set off while the equipment is loaded on the donkeys. There are a few small homes along the way. You can also see terraced farm land on the hill sides. St. Terese is a cluster of buildings behind a gate; a church, a school and some homes. The back of the village opens to a cliff over looking the Gulf of Gonave, which gives Haiti its “C” shape.

The first discovery is that the metal case, with the dental instruments did not arrive. They hoped to see 30 patients each day, now we have to wait. The dentists walk back to the drop off point and wait for the truck to return. The missing case was left under a seat and the trucks were part way down the mountain before it was discovered. With the case found the dental clinic opens.

We set-up triage under a tree in the main court yard. The medical team and the pharmacy set-up in two small rooms separated by a curtain. It is actually more like two sheets than a curtain. Next to us is a long narrow building that has three or four classrooms. This is the main school building, the church building also serves as a classroom. The dental clinic is set-up under a tent at the back of the village, overlooking the gulf and the coast.

The biggest challenge we face today is that we will need to stop seeing patients, close the pharmacy, and the dental clinic soon enough to hike back to the vehicles before dark. In all I believe we saw about 190 patients, 30 or so went to the dental clinic. The medical team wrapped up operations by about 4 pm. Due to the late start the dental clinic took longer to finish, so it was about 4:50 by the time the last of us start the hike back to the drop off point.

Below is a short video from the end of the school. The students all gather outside the main building and sing, the national anthem or a pledge.

Here is a selection of photos from our day at St. Terese.