First Annual Healing Hands for Haiti Summit IN THIS ISSUE

Fall 2007
Volume 2, Issue 1
Newsletter
I N T E R N AT I O N A L
First Annual Healing Hands for Haiti Summit
Looking back… moving forward ........ 2
by Lisa Bagley, President
Regard vers le passé,
vision de l’avenir ............................. 3
Miami,
Florida
was the setting
for
the
first
Healing Hands for
Haiti summit held
November
30
t h r o u g h
December
3,
2006 for the twin
organizations
Healing Hands for
Haiti International, based in Salt Lake City,
Utah and Healing Hands for Haiti Foundation,
based in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
The summit brought together many of the
board members from both organizations,
team leaders and long time volunteers
from the chapters developing across the
United States and Canada.
The summit began with an introduction
from Yvonne Brye-Vela, the newly-hired
General Manager and was followed by an
operational overview by Gina Duncan, the
Executive Director and Jan Groves, Director
of Operations. Highlights and accomplishments from the many programs
supported by Healing Hands were presented.
Board member sessions, skillfully
facilitated by Pam Schaefer were held to
review the mission and vision of Healing
Hands with a look back over the last five
years and to discuss the goals and plans
for the next five years. Other topics of
discussion included team building,
Welcoming Our New General
Manager, Yvonne Brye-Vela .............. 4
Welcome Wilda,
Guest House Manager ..................... 5
Bienvenue Wilda,
la gérante du Guest House ............... 5
From the Editor ............................... 5
Medical teams collaborate for
the people of Labadie ...................... 6
Boards of Directors ......................... 7
Giving – it’s an opportunity .............. 7
Team Canada April/Avril 2007 ......... 8
HEALING HANDS FOR HAITI
INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION INC.
www.healinghandsforhaiti.org
U.S. OFFICES
Healing Hands for Haiti International Inc.
P.O. Box 521800
Salt Lake City, Utah 84152
Fax: 661-885-4441
Tel: 803-408-5401
INTERNATIONAL OFFICERS
Chairman, Jeff Randle
President, Lisa Bagley
Director of Operations & Finance, Jan Groves
Executive Director, Jean Belhomme Cadet
General Manager, Yvonne Brye-Vela
Christina Smith
IN THIS ISSUE
HAITIAN OFFICES
Healing Hands for Haiti International Foundation Inc.
Avenue John Brown #370
Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Tel: 011-509-245-6932
Alt. Tel: 011-509-245-6550
Guest House: 011-509-245-6548
Fax: 661-885-4441 (US based eFax)
HAITIAN OFFICERS
President, Dr. Bernard Nau
Vice President, Dr. Idgie Garnier
Treasurer, Mrs. Marguerite Jean Louis
Program Director, Jean Belhomme Cadet
EDITORIAL COMMITTEE
Editor, Eric Doubt
Past Editor, Ann Ballard
Members: Jan Groves
Yvonne Brye-Vela
Christina Smith
Graphic Design/Production, Sonia Gojkovich
Editorial Assistance, Marnie Hughes
Translation, Lise-Anne Laverdure
Photography, Eric Doubt (unless credited)
Break out session at Miami Summit
governance, strategic planning, chapter
development and budgeting.
In addition to the combined board
meetings, the team leader conference
presented opportunity to share ideas,
strategies and work on updating, stream
lining and synchronizing processes for the
medical teams. Representatives from Team
Canada, Boston, Portland, Minnesota and
Utah participated.
Presentation topics
included: Team Leader Manual and Guides
Update by Gail Buck, Team Reports by Judy
Keith,
Using
your
Computer
for
Communication and Planning by Jeff
Campbell, Local Fund Raising and Pubic
Relations by Eric Doubt, Caregivers School
by Lisa Bagley, Outreach Clinics by Kim
Butler, Educational Opportunities by Franckie
Francin, Airline Tips by Jean Tracy, Outreach
Clinics in Hospitals Program by JB Cadet,
Education by Jamie Young, and Team
Excursions by Lucien Duncan. The 2-day
session was very informative and helpful for
the team leaders. Presentations are
available from the presenters or Marette
Monson who so ably organized the team
leader conference.
Saturday
evening
the
summit
participants were graciously hosted by Dr.
Barth Green at the Shake–a–Leg Miami
Foundation in beautiful Biscayne Bay. This
organization offers water sports education
and leisure for adults and children with
CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
International Newsletter
Looking back… moving forward
(presented at the December 2006 Healing Hands for Haiti Boards Summit, Miami, Florida)
Jeff Randle, MD – Chairman, Healing Hands for Haiti International Board
When I think of the
humble beginnings
of HHHIF back in
August of 1998,
I’m not sure any of
us imagined that
we would be where
we are today.
When our original
dream of doing
“something”
to
help the disabled
in Haiti began to take focus with the help of
Susan Gleason, Gina Duncan, Jan Groves
and many others, none of us could have
ever imagined we would have surmounted
so many obstacles and accomplished so
much in just 8 years. We could not have
come this far without the dedication,
commitment and sacrifice of each and
every one of you.
Each of us has a story about how and
why we got involved in Healing Hands for
Haiti; almost always they have to do with
the recognition that you and I have the
capability and the responsibility to help
those less fortunate than ourselves. I hope
that our newsletter will give many of you an
opportunity to share stories that have
inspired you to volunteer your time and
resources to HHHIF.
After hemming and hawing and muddling
around, it took a Social worker, Susan
Gleason to organize HHHIF’s first effort at
a medical mission to Haiti. We had no idea
what we were doing and were told to expect
to have all our medications confiscated in
customs and to not be surprised if we
weren’t able to treat anyone during our first
trip. Well… that nearly happened! If it
weren’t for an angel named Gina Duncan
who took pity on us because of our
predicaments, the dream of an organization
dedicated to supporting all efforts
providing rehabilitation treatment, training,
and public awareness of disabilities, would
have been cut down the way so many of our
patients are, before even getting a chance
to show what they can do.
Thanks to Gina, and Susan Gleason,
Travis Smith, Susan Bale, Lisa Bagley, Matt
Bracken and each of the other 15 people
who made that first trip such a success,
almost every single person signed up to go
back to Haiti the next year. In 1999, we
took 43 people with us and sent teams to
Cayes and Cap-Haitien as well as Port-auPrince. After our second trip, HHHIF began
to grow. Through posters and presentations
at national meetings, letter writing
campaigns, fundraisers, and just word of
mouth, caring and compassionate people
began to join our efforts. Some of the best
and brightest of the medical and business
community in P-au-P were recruited to form
a strong Haitian Board of Directors: Joelle
Vieux, Rene Leger, Jean Sanon, and others
helped build a strong foundation in Port-au-
HHH Headquarters, 370 Avenue John Brown, Port-au-Prince
HHH siège principal, 370 avenue John Brown, Port-au-Prince
Page 2
www.healinghandsforhaiti.org
Prince. Jeff Cameron, Al Ingersoll and
many others from the Midwest helped build
HHH internationally as did Colleen
O’Connell and the Canadian teams. By
2000 we had rented a house in Pacot and
with the help of some great construction
volunteers; we soon had our own clinic up
and running.
I am somewhat ashamed to admit that it
took us a year or two to figure out that we
needed to start training Haitians to care for
their own disabled people. Fortunately,
Health Volunteers Overseas came into the
picture at just the right time. So many
wonderful volunteers from within and
without HVO helped train our first classes
of Haitian Tech I students and a great
contingent of prosthetists have trained our
Haitian O and P technicians as well.
In 2001, HHHIF got another break, just
when we needed it. Barry Smith, who had
volunteered on one of our teams,
purchased Residences de la Vallee and
leased this wonderful 16 acre property to
HHIF. Once again we all worked hard to
make this compound into a clinic,
guesthouse, school and administration
offices of which we can all be proud.
With a great deal of hard work we have
since started: a school reintegration
program; thanks to the Roberson and Green
families we have built a home to house
patients and students from outside P-au-P;
we have supported rehab clinics in Cayes
and Jacmel and are working on long
distance computer training for our
prosthetic technicians. We have held CME
programs for Haitian medical professionals,
and have supported non- rehab medical
teams who come to treat different acute
illnesses. Recently, an anonymous donation
of $250,000 has helped start the planning
process for realizing our dream to build
Haiti’s and possibly the Caribbean’s first
rehabilitation hospital!
The years ahead hold many challenges
and opportunities for HHHIF. We have two
very committed and competent Boards of
Directors in Haiti and in North America.
With their direction and with the help of
each of you I am excited about what the
next 8 years hold in store for HHHIF as we
continue to realize our dream of providing
state-of-the-art rehabilitation care and
training to the disabled adults and children
of Haiti. On behalf the Healing Hands for
Haiti International Foundation, I want to
thank each of you who has helped to
further this dream.
Fall 2007
International Newsletter
Regard vers le passé, vision de l’avenir
(présentation faite au Sommet de 2006 des conseils de Healing Hands for Haiti à Miami, Florida)
Jeff Randle, MD – Président, Conseil international de Healing Hands for Haiti
Quand je pense aux débuts très modestes
de la Fondation internationale de HHH
(HHHIF) en août 1998, je doute qu’aucun
d’entre nous n’aurait pu imaginer où nous
en serions aujourd’hui. Lorsque notre rêve
initial de faire « quelque chose » pour les
personnes handicapées de Haïti a
commencé à prendre forme avec l’aide de
Susan Gleason, Gina Duncan, Jan Groves et
tant d’autres, personne n’aurait pu prévoir
que nous surmonterions autant d’obstacles
et que nous accomplirions autant en huit
années à peine. Nous n’aurions pas pu
nous rendre au point où nous sommes
aujourd’hui
sans
le
dévouement,
l’engagement et les sacrifices de chacun
d’entre vous.
La participation de chacun à Healing
Hands for Haiti a emprunté divers chemins;
presque toujours, il y a eu au départ une
prise de conscience du fait que vous et moi
avons la capacité et la responsabilité
d’aider les gens qui ont eu moins de chance
que nous. J’espère que ce communiqué
fournira à plusieurs l’occasion de partager
ce qui les a incités à donner du temps et à
consacrer des ressources à la Fondation
internationale de HHH.
Après bien des tergiversations, des
doutes et des hésitations, il a fallu une
travailleuse sociale, Susan Gleason, pour
organiser la première mission médicale de
la Fondation internationale de HHH en Haïti.
Nous n’avions aucune idée de ce qui nous
attendait et nous avions peur de nous faire
confisquer tous médicaments à la douane.
On nous avait prévenu que nous ne serions
probablement pas en mesure de soigner qui
Our work continues…
Notre travail continue…
Fall 2007
que ce soit à notre première visite. Et...
c’est ce qui a bien failli arriver! N’eût été
d’une ange appelée Gina Duncan qui s’est
apitoyée sur notre triste sort, le rêve d’un
organisme consacré au soutien de diverses
activités liées à la réadaptation des
malades, à la formation du personnel et à la
sensibilisation du public aux personnes
handicapées se serait écroulé, tout comme
les rêves d’un si grand nombre de nos
malades qui n’ont même pas la chance de
montrer ce dont ils sont capables.
Un merci sincère à Gina, à Susan
Gleason, Travis Smith, Susan Bale, Lisa
Bagley, Matt Bracken et chacune des quinze
autres personnes qui ont assuré le succès
de cette première mission; chacune d’entre
elles ou presque s’est aussi engagée à
retourner en Haïti l’année suivante. En
1999, 43 personnes sont venues avec nous
et nous avons pu envoyer des équipes à
Cayes et à Cap-Haïtien en plus de nous
rendre à Port-au-Prince. Après notre
deuxième voyage, HHHIF a vraiment pris son
envol. Affiches, présentations à des
réunions d’envergure nationale, campagnes
de lettres, activités de collecte de fonds et
bouche-à-oreille tout simple ont incité des
gens compatissants et bienveillants à
participer à nos efforts. Certains des plus
brillants représentants du monde de la
médecine et des affaires de Port-au-Prince
ont été recrutés pour former un solide
conseil d’administration haïtien : Joëlle
Vieux, René Leger, Jean Sanon, parmi bien
d’autres, ont travaillé à l’élaboration de
bases solides dans la capitale. Quant à
Jeff Cameron, Al Ingersoll et d’autres gens
du Midwest, ils ont
contribué à l’évolution de HHH à
l’échelle
internationale, tout comme
Colleen O’Connell et
les équipes canadiennes. En 2000,
nous avons loué une
maison à Pacot et,
grâce à l’aide de
merveilleux
bénévoles du secteur de
la construction, nous
avons bientôt pu
ouvrir et exploiter
notre propre clinique.
J’ai un peu honte
d’avouer qu’il nous a
fallu un ou deux ans
pour nous rendre
www.healinghandsforhaiti.org
compte que nous devions commencer à
former des Haïtiens pour prendre en charge
les personnes handicapées de leur milieu.
Heureusement,
l’organisme
Health
Volunteers Overseas s’est manifesté au bon
moment. Un grand nombre de bénévoles
extraordinaires venus de HVO et d’ailleurs
ont contribué à la formation de nos premiers
groupes d’étudiants haïtiens en Technique
de réadaptation 1 tandis qu’un groupe
merveilleux de prothésistes formaient nos
prothésistes/orthésistes locaux.
En 2001, HHHIF a profité d’un autre coup
de chance juste au bon moment. Barry
Smith, qui avait travaillé comme bénévole au
sein d’une de nos équipes, a fait l’achat de
Résidences de la Vallée et loué à HHIF cette
magnifique propriété de 16 acres. Encore
une fois, tout le monde a mis l’épaule à la
roue pour créer dans ce complexe une
clinique, une maison pour les invités, une
école et des bureaux administratifs dont
nous pouvons tous être fiers.
Sans ménager notre temps ni nos efforts,
nous avons depuis mis sur pied un
programme de réinsertion scolaire; grâce
aux familles Roberson et Green, nous avons
construit une maison d’accueil pour les
patients et les étudiants venus d’ailleurs que
de Port-au-Prince; nous avons soutenu des
cliniques de réadaptation à Cayes et à
Jacmel et nous collaborons à la formation en
informatique à distance de nos prothésistes.
Nous avons organisé des programmes de
formation médicale continue pour les
professionnels de la santé haïtiens et
soutenu des équipes médicales venues pour
traiter différentes maladies aiguës. Tout
récemment, un don anonyme de 250 000 $
nous a permis de concrétiser un rêve et
d’entreprendre la planification du premier
institut de réadaptation d’Haïti et
probablement des Antilles!
Les prochaines années réservent de
nombreux défis et de belles possibilités à la
Fondation. Nous avons la chance de pouvoir
compter sur deux conseils de direction
formés de gens compétents et dévoués en
Haïti et en Amérique du Nord. Sous leur
gouverne et grâce à votre appui, j’anticipe
avec enthousiasme ce que les huit
prochaines années réservent à notre
Fondation qui poursuivra son rêve : fournir
des soins de réadaptation et une formation
de pointe aux adultes et enfants handicapés
d’Haïti. Au nom de la Fondation
internationale de Healing Hands for Haiti, je
tiens à remercier chaque personne qui a
servi à l’avancement de notre vision.
Page 3
International Newsletter
Welcoming Our New General
Manager, Yvonne Brye-Vela
by Christina Smith – Marketing Co-ordinator
Please welcome Yvonne as Healing Hands
for Haiti’s new General Manager!
The Healings Hands for Haiti team is
delighted to have Yvonne Brye-Vela as an
integral part of HHH. As the first General
Manager, she brings energy, enthusiasm
and knowledge as HHH continues to
expand and grow.
Yvonne has a commitment to the
international and nonprofit sector. She has
been working and volunteering in the
nonprofit community for more than 20 years. She spent several
years in France and Germany studying languages and history. During
her career, she worked with UNESCO in Paris, France and Big
Brothers Big Sisters of Colorado and the Colorado Association of
Nonprofit Organizations.
In addition, Yvonne served as International Specialist for both
Tyco International and Agilent Technologies. In 2001, she founded
Translingual Solutions, a multilingual staffing and consulting firm. As
owner, she focused on small to mid-size businesses in both the forprofit and non-profit arenas. She trained on cultural and linguistic
diversity issues as well as improving organizational and
management skills. With her nonprofit clients, she focused on grant
writing, fundraising and board development concerns.
Local community efforts included serving on the following boards
as a member or advisor: Denver Sister Cities, American Liver
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
First Annual Healing Hands for Haiti Summit (cont’d)
disabilities. Dinner, dancing, entertainment and a moonlight boat
ride will be remembered by all. Summit participants were
encouraged to bring items from their home town to auction that
evening to other members of the summit. It was a fun way to get
to know more about each other and raise a little money for the
Foundation. Dr. Green and Dr. Jon Robison, both long-time
supporters of Healing Hands for Haiti, gave superb talks during the
event. Their words of encouragement and inspiration touched all
who heard them. We are indebted to Dr. Green, as well, for his
donation of both the evening venue and the conference facilities at
the Lois Pope Center in Miami.
The summit concluded with an excursion to a South Beach Italian
restaurant and was an excellent opportunity for final visiting and
networking by the staff, volunteers and board members.
Healing Hands for Haiti is an organization that began with just a
small group of adventurous people who went to Haiti to do
rehabilitation medicine. We never dreamed it would become the
international effort that it is today. It is only through the thousands
of volunteers, the commitment of the employed staff, the hundreds
of hours of “behind-the-scenes” work and the dedicated board
members of both Foundations that the organization continues to
function. The summit represents a coming together of the passion
we all have for humanitarian work and the love we share for the
Haitian people. The foundation is growing rapidly and with that
Page 4
Christina Smith, left, interviews Yvonne in Miami.
Foundation – Rocky Mtn. Chapter, Denver International School,
Innovations International Charter School of Southern Nevada.
Currently, she serves as a board member of the Nevada Association
of Non-profit Organizations.
Yvonne Brye-Vela received her B.A. from Boston University and her
Masters in Public Administration – Nonprofit Management, from the
University of Colorado. She speaks fluently in English, French and
German, and studied Spanish, Russian and Mandarin Chinese.
Yvonne’s interests include family and music! She is married and
has three wonderful children.
growth comes change and complexity. While the Foundation
continues to work through the current growing pains, the passion,
dedication and work continues. It is my sincere hope that summits
such as this one will continue, offering the opportunity to
strengthen the bonds of our partnership and friendship.
(Keep posted to the web site and your email for announcements
of the 2007 summit.)
“Healing Hands For Haiti
is growing rapidly
and with that growth
comes change
and complexity.”
www.healinghandsforhaiti.org
Lisa Bagley, President
Fall 2007
International Newsletter
Welcome Wilda
Guest House Manager
Bienvenue Wilda,
gérante du Guest House
Jean Belhomme A. CADET, Executive Director
Jean Belhomme A. CADET, Directeur Executif
Her smile precedes her. Wilda Alexandre,
born in Petite Rivière de l’Artibonite on
December 24, 1962, grew up among wild
flowers, but still has a great sense of
hospitality and will make you feel welcome
every time you enter the Guest House.
When she was 13, Wilda left her
hometown and came to Port-au-Prince to
attend high school and study in the field of
her choice, the hotel industry.
Mother of two (2) boys, Wilda has strong
family values. For her, family is of the utmost importance. This is
why her life is a permanent struggle between work and home.
Nevertheless, her smile radiates joy, love and it’s a pleasure to be
in her company. .
She has worked for various establishments, such as Hotel
Montana, International Lifeline, Restaurant Cassagne, Restaurant
Tropical, among others, In her mind, though, Healing Hands is not
work, it’s her way of contributing to a cause dedicated to helping
physically handicapped people in Haiti.
Since November 2006, she graces us with her smile and
pleasant disposition.
Come and see her at the Guest House. Come to the Guest House
to discover her smile!!!
On la reconnaîtra par son sourire. Wilda Alexandre, originaire de la
Petite Rivière de l’Artibonite, qui est née un 24 décembre 1962, a
grandi parmi les fleurs sauvages, mais garde encore cette
hospitalité qui vous permettra de vous sentir bienvenu à chaque
fois que vous irez au Guest House.
Wilda à 13 ans quittera sa ville natale pour venir à Port-au-Prince
faire ses études secondaires et s’orientera vers une carrière dans
l’hôtellerie.
Mère de deux (2) garçons, Wilda conserve ses valeurs familiales.
Pour elle, rien n’est plus important que la famille. C’est pourquoi
sa vie reste un combat permanent entre le foyer et le travail. A la
voir sourire, elle jette autour d’elle la joie, l’amour, le plaisir d’être
en sa compagnie.
Elle a travaillé pour de nombreuses institutions comme Hôtel
Montana, International Lifeline, Restaurant Cassagne, Restaurant
Tropical pour ne citer que celles là, mais pour elle Healing Hands
n’est pas un travail, c’est sa façon de donner sa participation à
l’oeuvre qui consiste à aider les défaillants physiques d’Haïti.
Depuis novembre 2006, elle nous fait don de son sourire et de
sa bonne humeur.
Venez au Guest House et vous la verrez. Venez au Guest House
et vous découvrirez son sourire!!!
From the Editor
– Byenvini! Welcome! Bienvenue!
Anne Ballard, founding editor, and Eric Doubt, editor-in-training April 2006
A year goes by. Changes occur. Our two Boards hold a joint Pow
Wow in Miami to discuss them. Haiti is calmer. In April, our team
saw big green dumpsters dropped around Port au Prince being
filled. Haitian police were conspicuous and welcome in new
uniforms and motorcycles. The Canadian Ambassador, Claude
Boucher, said there had been no kidnappings since before
Christmas. An editor hands off the torch to another. A year goes
by… Welcome to your International Newsletter for Fall 2007.
I am thankful for a CBC mini news documentary I saw in the
winter of 2006 on Gina Duncan’s inspiring work with that angel
Fall 2007
Madame Blaise in setting up her orphanage for abandoned,
disabled children extricated from the General Hospital in PaP. Six
weeks later, in April, having been welcomed as a support volunteer,
I accompanied Ann Ballard, our founding editor, on my first trip to
Haiti and first experience with Healing Hands for Haiti.
Ann showed me an open heart and mind, how to get through the
international airport in PaP, out of myself, around obstacles and
challenges, into a strange and beautiful culture, and back home
safely, but not quite as the same person. The difference in me
came from the people I met at Healing Hands, in the clinic, at
orphanages, on the street.
But Ann couldn’t stay on and teach me something about
deadlines and sadly, due to the illness that was taking her loved
one, had to leave our volunteer family after two informative
editions of her newsletter. We are grateful to Ann; she and I have
kept in touch and she still has friends in Haiti and at Healing
Hands. I hope this newsletter connects her with the people and
project she dearly loved.
Let’s say a few months go by and another change occurs - there
will be a winter newsletter to connect us! We’d like to feature
another team and their accomplishments, include photos from the
missions, reflect the growth in this dynamic organization, inspire
fund raising and share more stories from Haiti and North America
in both languages. Nothing like a deadline – let’s say December 30.
www.healinghandsforhaiti.org
Eric Doubt,
Editor
Page 5
International Newsletter
Medical teams collaborate for the people of Labadie
Healing Hands and Hearts Together – both for Haiti
During my second trip to Haiti in 2005 with
Healing Hands for Haiti and Dr. Colleen
O’Connell’s Team Canada, I was introduced
to the village of Labadie in the North of the
country. Accessible only by water and bad
roads, this village of 4000 has been home
to another independent Canadian group
called Hearts Together for Haiti since 1996.
Based in Windsor, Ontario and working
through local community leaders they have
assisted with the construction of a school,
a medical clinic, a local church and water
supply project. Through donations and
regular team visits, they support K-6
education locally and sponsor local children
in grades 7 to 12 to travel to the nearby city
of Cap-Haitian. As well, they sponsor and
support a medical doctor from Cuba to staff
the clinic through the year providing much
needed care and medication.
With the infrastructure and programming
in place in Labadie the organization had
begun to expand into the outlying village of
Bod Me Limbe with the construction of a
small school and clinic. I completed a 7-day
needs assessment during October of 2006
and met with the Cuban medical staff in
Labadie to assess the nature of care in the
area. I then traveled to Bod Me Limbe with
Jo Barbosa, a local HTFH representative.
Only recently have Cuban physicians from
the nearby village of Bas Limbe started a
weekly impromptu clinic in the small
kitchen of Jo’s home. Jo also escorted me
on visits to the Hospital Bon Samaritan in
the larger centre of Limbe where a US
based group operates a 120-bed hospital
that is staffed by Cuban physicians year
round. It serves as regional care centre
hosting regular rotations of US medical and
surgical specialists.
We continued to liaise with the local HTFH
staff and firmed up an intent to operate two
teams, one in February and another in April,
2007. The small clinic, approximately
Tiffany and friend, Suzelle, in Labadie.
Page 6
300 square feet, is
expected
to
be
completed in January
and will comprise a
main
room
for
patients, teaching
and a pharmacy, an
examining room and
a basic kitchen to
provide meals to the
school children once
that
building
is
completed later this
year. As the village
has
never
had
regular
medical
coverage we are
expecting, based on
communication with
the
village Hearts Together for Haiti
leadership, a sizable
percentage of the population. The two
teams will be compiling epidemiological
information about disease prevalence and
nutrition to understand local needs,
allowing a refinement of goals in
subsequent support missions. In addition,
we will have two members who are
experienced in environmental, water and
sanitation who will be assisting the village
leadership with the construction of latrines,
improvement of the water supply and
installation of solar based water purification
and electrical supply to the clinic. Lastly, the
Teams, including several veterans from
Team Canada Healing Hands missions, will
be organizing public health education
sessions in Labadie and completing a
needs assessment and clinic in the
isolated village of Prunnette, a 45 minute
uphill hike into the mountains from Labadie.
In April 2007, Hearts Together/ Sante
Pou Nou were in Labadie and Bod me
Limbe from the 15-27th. We had a
10 member team consisting of 4 MDs,
2 RNs, 2 paramedics, a social worker and
engineer. Team members were from NB, NF
and ON. We spent 8 days in the village of
Bod me Limbe where we did a daily medical
clinic. We had 3 nurses triaging, one in
pharmacy with our engineer/support
worker and our social worker became our
new lab technician. We also performed
procedures including the removal of some
very large keloids (scars) and various other
“bumps”. We had basic instruments and
used a pressure cooker for sterilization.
We saw about 1000 people in 5-1/2 clinic
days. There were significantly more cases
www.healinghandsforhaiti.org
PHOTO: TIFFANY KEENAN
Story by Tiffany Keenan, MD
needs assessment team.
of malaria on this trip. Apparently March
had more rains than usual, which we’re
guessing was the reason for the increased
numbers compared to February.
We worked with 9 translators from the
village of Labadie. Living under the same
roof as the translators, we truly were able
to grasp the basics of the language and
learn more about the Haitian culture.
Midtrip we had a meeting with the local
village council to discuss plans for the
area. The village will soon have public dry
toilets. These will be built by a group called
Vwy Ayiti who we’ve been working closely
with. We also discussed the mosquito
problem in the village, water, and
agriculture. We have plans to fund an
Agence Sante worker in the village to
promote local health care. It’s very
rewarding to be able to work closely with
the village council. Their immediate need
was wheelbarrows and shovels, to clean up
garbage and cover standing water to
eliminate mosquitoes.
Next we were off to the village of Labadie
where part of the group did a school
education program on handwashing while
the rest of us hiked the mountain to do a
day medical clinic in Prunnette. Even at
9:30 am we were still pretty sweaty when
reaching the top. The people were happy to
see familiar faces as we had visited the
same village in February.
Our team plans to return to Haiti in
October, January and April. If you’d like any
more information or would be interested in
joining us please send me an email.
Fall 2007
International Newsletter
Healing Hands For Haiti
Healing Hands For Haiti
International Foundation
2007-2008 Board of Directors
International Foundation
2007-2008 Board of Directors
Jeff Randle, M.D., Chairman
Salt Lake City, UT
Colleen O’Connell, M.D.
Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada
Lisa Bagley, CRRN - President
West Jordan, UT
Barry M. Smith
Paradise Valley, AZ
Jan Groves, Director of Operations
Bountiful, UT
Jean Tracy
Manor, TX
Yvonne Brye-Vela, M.P.A.
General Manager – International
Henderson, NV
Richard Call, M.D.
Pleasant Grove, UT
Eric Doubt
Georgetown, Ontario, Canada
Steve Fisher, M.D., M.S.
Minneapolis, MN
Healing Hands For Haiti
Haiti
2007-2008 Board of Directors
Dr Bernard Nau, President
Dr Idgie Garnier Kenol, Vice-President
Trent Goddard
Salt Lake City, UT
Marguerite Jean Louis, Treasurer
Nita Killebrew
Phoenix, AZ
Dr Rodolpha Lalane, Counselor
Matt Lewis, J.D.
Salt Lake City, UT
Ellis L. Nuttall
Provo, UT
Erna Beaulieu, Assistant (secretary)
Caroline Lerouge, Counselor
Dr Edouard Ovile, Counselor
Mrs Sheila Nicholas, Honorary member
Mr Joel E. Vorbes, Honorary member
Giving - it's an opportunity
Where ever and whom ever you are, there are so many ways to give in support
of Healing Hands for Haiti. And each way and each time is an opportunity to
make a difference in Haiti, lend a direct hand to people in need and invest in the
future of the Haitian nation.
v Donate your time - volunteer on a medical or fund raising team
v Donate funds – in support of our rehabilitation projects and
expanding initiatives in Haiti
v Donate resources – individual and company expertise, medical
equipment and supplies
v Donate your heart – become an individual, community or
corporate sponsor
For more information, please email us at
[email protected] or call our main office at
801-408-5401.
Visit www.healinghandsforhaiti.org.
thank you, merci,
remèsye ou
Fall 2007
www.healinghandsforhaiti.org
Page 7
International Newsletter
Team Canada April/Avril 2007
by Eric Doubt
The 21 members of Team Canada Healing Hands raised
about $39,000 across Canada to finance the trip logistics,
treatment and training projects, and filled 42 huge hockey
bags with donated equipment and supplies for the mission.
Acting as padding were 112 donated teddy bears which we
delivered to orphaned and disabled children of all ages. In
Haiti, the team broke up into smaller groups and visited 10
small centres throughout the country in seven working
days. We were also hosted by our Ambassador, Claude
Boucher, at the Canadian Embassy in Port au Prince to
discuss current needs and Canada’s efforts in Haiti. Team
leader, Dr. Colleen O’Connell, top right.
Les 21 membres de l’équipe canadienne de Healing Hands ont collecté
environ 39 000 $ dans tout le Canada pour financer les aspects logistiques
du voyage, ainsi que les projets de traitement et de formation. Ils ont aussi
rempli 42 immenses sacs de hockey d’équipement et de fournitures donnés
pour la mission. Servant de rembourrage dans chaque petit recoin, se
trouvaient les 112 peluches que vous aviez données et qui ont été remises à
des enfants orphelins ou handicapés de tous âges. Une fois rendue sur place,
l’équipe s’est divisée en plus petits groupes qui ont visité en sept jours de
travail, 10 centres répartis dans le pays. Nous avons aussi été accueillis par
notre ambassadeur, Claude Boucher, à l’ambassade canadienne située à Portau-Prince pour discuter des besoins courants et des efforts du Canada en
Haïti. Notre chef d'équipe, Colleen O'Connell MD, en haut, à droite.
This issue is dedicated to Gina Duncan with thanks for her passion for the people of Haiti, her contribution
to the founding of Healing Hands for Haiti in 1998 and her 10 year dedication to this organization.
Eric Doubt, Editor
Gina ne fut pas seulement Directrice Exécutif et une Fondatrice de la (HHH) mais plus encore un modèle.
Aussi nous lui suhaitons tout le succès qu'elle mérite.
Jean Belhomme A. CADET, Directeur Executif.
Page 8
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Fall 2007