Monthly Archives: January 2012

Haiti Feb. 25, 2012

The morning started with plans to do a mobile clinic at one of the orphanages in Croiz des Bouquets where I previously worked. There were a number of Haitian staff working with me including a Haitian internist, there were last minute changes in who could go but it worked out with those available.  Our first stop was the 4C pharmacy to stock up on medications and another store for misc supplies and additional medications.  Many lessons learned on all the various items needed for a successful mobile clinic beyond the assortment of meds which in itself is a huge task, items like gloves, hand sanitizer, blood pressure cuffs, thermometers w covers, among others help bring it all together.  Doing a child focused clinic verses adult emphasis requires different meds and they should be available in liquid form to ease swallowing.  It helps to have a scale or good ability to gauge weights as meds are supposed to be given based on weight, in many cases guessing estimated weight is necessary.  It’s tough to pick meds based on potential diseases that may be encountered.  We arrived at the orphanage in a tap-tap.  We were greeted by the Pastor his wife and the children and toured the facility.  They were thankful to have received the food shipment that day w beans/rice, oil, spaghetti, seasoning, dry milk , sugar and cereal which was purchased from the T shirt campaign.     The orphanage had rooms filled with bunks, a kitchen, a bathroom and the backyard had latrines.  We passed out donations (i.e. candy, educational goods, toothbrushes, toothpaste,, Vitamins) while setting up the mobile clinic.  I set up a worm treatment station and another area for treatment of skin infections with Gentian violet.  I had the driver get involved with that part and he helped treat each of the children who lined up waiting for their turn.  It was a good day- we saw many children until nightfall.  We had them line up to do a quick head to toe assessment and evaluate who needed further treatment.  We saw worms, scabies, malnutrition, various skin infections among other problems.   We stayed until after it was dark, did not get to treat all of the children.  It is hard to end a clinic day without seeing everyone, but that is a reality in managing high volume clinics.    We headed back to Port au Prince after a tiring day.