boots on the ground IIIa

The email copied below is Lee Warren’s third email. I mistakenly posted her fourth email as her third.

The first day at the clinic is over and the sun is setting. We are tired, more from the very rough drive to and from the clinic than from seeing all the many patients. Fortunately we passed road graders coming back in but to hope that the road would be leveled before we leave is just that – hope.

Everything takes time in Haiti.

We saw a few patients who had been brought in from PAP, but mostly we were seeing the members of the community, some with severe malnutrition, but mostly urgent care cases. The clinic has a clever system to help those patients who are undernourished. The ministry provided 4 women with micro-credits loan so they could become food vendors at the clinic. Patients are given tongue depressors when they leave which they exchange for a meal from the vendor of their choice. Throughout the day someone goes out and gives each vendor a dollar and buys back their tongue depressor. By doing so the clinic is funding cooks to provide meals for those in most need of a meal. Some patients receive several depressors. Many patients receive full fat milk powder and a type of meal they can prepare at home.

As one of the non-medical team members, I took vitals or counted meds all day. I am also the group photographer.

There was no ice at the hotel when we returned, but the shower always feel amazing! As does helping these precious people.

Until tomorrow,

Lee