Testas
We had a great day in Testas, this our third year in delivering a mobile medical/dental clinic to this poor, seaside village (leftover hint: “mobile dental” means extractions only. . .not for the faint of heart, although Maria has all the aesthetics required to make for a relatively painless procedure!).
This is a village of about 800 people, most make their living either gathering stone or sand (for mortar) from the beach, or fishing. There are very few masonry or stone structures, such is the average income. The village leaders were ready for us and had the insides of the church we use nearly exactly as we need it. . .to host Doctors in one place, patient triage in another, the “pharmacy” in another, ear wash in another, reading glasses. . .and, on demand, wound care. More on that shortly.
We started at 9:15 am and wrapped up around 4:30 pm. 320 Haitians were seen medically, there were 42 tooth extractions (the fingers hesitate to even type this. . .), 90 pairs of reading glasses fitted, and 40-odd sets of ears rinsed. We see some different problems village to village. . .more high BPs in Chiraque, and a LOT more wound care cases in Testas, which is just off the main road. . .where small cc, Chinese-made motorcycles rule!! Lots of muffler burns. . .nasty to think about, and way worse seeing up close and personal. One mans entire inside right calf was charred. . .requiring Nancy to scrub off the dead skin. I wish I had this fellow’s pain threshold. . .not a peep. . .just gratitude when all bandaged up and on his way, with a care package to redress the wound in a couple of days.
Our host church also became an Intensive Care Unit. . .a young mother, already being treated for diabetes, came to the clinic with a near-death blood sugar reading. One of our Haitian Doctors has been treating this woman but, as is too often the case, hasn’t fully mastered her own care and sometimes lacks the funds for timely follow-up in Dr. Marx’s office (not his fee, or even the insulin, both of which he provides free of charge. . .it’s the getting there (hint: imagine walking to the Doctor. . .about 6 miles each way).
An IV was required and the proper solutions obtained from nearby Jeremie. We had insulin and syringes so the combined effects brought her blood sugar down to acceptable levels.
We truly love working with our Haitian friends. . .Doctors, Dentist, nurses, translators, drivers, helpers. . .and a big shout-out to Pastor Claudel, who is based in Jeremie but is presently responsible for the Leon Circuit. He was so giving of his time at our every stop this week, and his truck made carting all of our gear and troops so much easier and safer. On a day when his truck was not needed, it avoided a collision with a far larger truck and suffered 3 tire blowouts. Tubes were installed temporarily to ferry our crew to Testas today. In the next day or two, his truck will have 4 new tires. . .a kind of “thank you” for being a great partner.
Tomorrow, we are off to the village of David. . .we will kick off the building of a “proper” church, to replace the ramshackle affair there now. It will be a quick visit, but it’s a 1-hour car road to the closest point to the village, then another 30 minute walk!
We have overcome worse, with lot’s of help from folks like you.
John, Nancy, Anne and Mick
This is a village of about 800 people, most make their living either gathering stone or sand (for mortar) from the beach, or fishing. There are very few masonry or stone structures, such is the average income. The village leaders were ready for us and had the insides of the church we use nearly exactly as we need it. . .to host Doctors in one place, patient triage in another, the “pharmacy” in another, ear wash in another, reading glasses. . .and, on demand, wound care. More on that shortly.
We started at 9:15 am and wrapped up around 4:30 pm. 320 Haitians were seen medically, there were 42 tooth extractions (the fingers hesitate to even type this. . .), 90 pairs of reading glasses fitted, and 40-odd sets of ears rinsed. We see some different problems village to village. . .more high BPs in Chiraque, and a LOT more wound care cases in Testas, which is just off the main road. . .where small cc, Chinese-made motorcycles rule!! Lots of muffler burns. . .nasty to think about, and way worse seeing up close and personal. One mans entire inside right calf was charred. . .requiring Nancy to scrub off the dead skin. I wish I had this fellow’s pain threshold. . .not a peep. . .just gratitude when all bandaged up and on his way, with a care package to redress the wound in a couple of days.
Our host church also became an Intensive Care Unit. . .a young mother, already being treated for diabetes, came to the clinic with a near-death blood sugar reading. One of our Haitian Doctors has been treating this woman but, as is too often the case, hasn’t fully mastered her own care and sometimes lacks the funds for timely follow-up in Dr. Marx’s office (not his fee, or even the insulin, both of which he provides free of charge. . .it’s the getting there (hint: imagine walking to the Doctor. . .about 6 miles each way).
An IV was required and the proper solutions obtained from nearby Jeremie. We had insulin and syringes so the combined effects brought her blood sugar down to acceptable levels.
We truly love working with our Haitian friends. . .Doctors, Dentist, nurses, translators, drivers, helpers. . .and a big shout-out to Pastor Claudel, who is based in Jeremie but is presently responsible for the Leon Circuit. He was so giving of his time at our every stop this week, and his truck made carting all of our gear and troops so much easier and safer. On a day when his truck was not needed, it avoided a collision with a far larger truck and suffered 3 tire blowouts. Tubes were installed temporarily to ferry our crew to Testas today. In the next day or two, his truck will have 4 new tires. . .a kind of “thank you” for being a great partner.
Tomorrow, we are off to the village of David. . .we will kick off the building of a “proper” church, to replace the ramshackle affair there now. It will be a quick visit, but it’s a 1-hour car road to the closest point to the village, then another 30 minute walk!
We have overcome worse, with lot’s of help from folks like you.
John, Nancy, Anne and Mick
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