| The second week is dedicated to clinical care |
The Cap Lamandou Hotel occupies a bluff overlooking the Caribbean Ocean.
Air conditioned rooms, private balcony, swimming pool and
great food all conspire to help one relax after days of hard work.
The pleasure of staying at the Cap
is but another small reason to return next trip.
Air conditioned rooms, private balcony, swimming pool and
great food all conspire to help one relax after days of hard work.
The pleasure of staying at the Cap
is but another small reason to return next trip.
As a chance to unwind from the busy pace we keep, especially in
surgery, the team takes a break in Jacmel at the Cap Lamandou Hotel.
Spending the night in Jacmel before departure makes it easier to get to
the airport for the quick flight back to Port au Prince. It also makes it
easier to accept leaving Haiti and to endure the long flights back home.
surgery, the team takes a break in Jacmel at the Cap Lamandou Hotel.
Spending the night in Jacmel before departure makes it easier to get to
the airport for the quick flight back to Port au Prince. It also makes it
easier to accept leaving Haiti and to endure the long flights back home.
| Not everyone we help needs surgery; there is an endless line of patients at the clinic doors, too. Dr. Rene has for years offered PAP Smears, Colposcopy and Conizations in an effort to identify and help women at risk for cervical dysplasia and cancers. AHDH strives to improve prenatal care in an effort to reduce maternal and infant mortality rates. The desired outcome is a healthy baby and mother. |
| And these faces are a reminder of our work still waiting to be done And why we must return regardless of the difficulty or expense In Haiti where, "Beyond every mountain is another mountain," It is true at St. Joseph's Hospital that "Beyond every patient is another patient." |
| A chance before departure to see some of the happy faces of the people helped this week |
Nothing can bring more joy than those happy faces in post-op,
ready to go home, relieved of decades long illnesses
These faces are a reminder of HIS work well done
ready to go home, relieved of decades long illnesses
These faces are a reminder of HIS work well done
| We were sad to see the first week end and some members of the team return home. We usually plan for two teams during a mission, often a near complete replacement of personnel. Those who can, will stay for two weeks or longer. |
| AHDH Mission - Fall 2009 November 15 - November 28 |
Ultrasound Technology is crucial for the development of an OB service and prenatal care.
| In Obstretrics, ultrasound provides critical information concerning the condition of mother and child. Nurses, midwives and physicianscan use these hand held Doppler instruments. |
| Sandra monitors fetal heart tones |
The type of ultrasound which provides images of
the developing baby is a specialized instrument
which requires training to use properly.
the developing baby is a specialized instrument
which requires training to use properly.
This type of instrument provides a look
into the womb at the developing infant.
And it can be used as a diagnostic
aid in gyenocology patients or used
for other areas of the body as well
into the womb at the developing infant.
And it can be used as a diagnostic
aid in gyenocology patients or used
for other areas of the body as well
Mike Beauford is a sonographer and AHDH volunteer.
He provides ultrasound for many of the clinical
specialties and has been teaching the technology
to several students at St. Joseph's Hospital.
He provides ultrasound for many of the clinical
specialties and has been teaching the technology
to several students at St. Joseph's Hospital.
| All the good works of AHDH would be difficult or impossible without a trained staff of nurses to assist the team and care for the patients |
| AHDH sponsored the 2008 class of Nurse Aid students via a work study program at St. Joseph Hospital They are the future of healthcae in the communities they serve, and they now fill a vital role in the various clinical specialties |
R.N. students from the Faculte des Sciences Infirmieres a Leogane
(www.haitinursing.org) were again invited to work with AHDH
These students are the epitome of what
nursing must be in our health care system:
competence, ethics, discipline.
Arsene and Marrah join with others invited to
work and train with AHDH's medical missions
work and train with AHDH's medical missions
| In addition to clinical services, education and equipment procurement AHDH is assisting CODEVA with a physical expansion of St. Joseph's Hospital |
2006 was a turning point for AHDH and St. Joseph's Hospital
(see the video A Decisive Moment Toward The Future * Haiti Mission 2006).
That year marked the beginning of a committment to the transformation of the
Dispensaire Hospital into a Medical Center to meet the increasing needs of the
Commune of LaVallee
A 30,000 gallon water tower was constructed to provide quality water and
renovations of the staff residence began. Our new 2 bed surgical suite, an eye
surgery and new post-op area are already a reality
(see the video A Decisive Moment Toward The Future * Haiti Mission 2006).
That year marked the beginning of a committment to the transformation of the
Dispensaire Hospital into a Medical Center to meet the increasing needs of the
Commune of LaVallee
A 30,000 gallon water tower was constructed to provide quality water and
renovations of the staff residence began. Our new 2 bed surgical suite, an eye
surgery and new post-op area are already a reality
| This trip we were excited to inaugurate a new Labor and delivery area |
the newly designed Nurses' Station
and see the start of a second level construction
to house a new Laboratory and HIV/AIDS clinic
to house a new Laboratory and HIV/AIDS clinic
| Engineer Bede Boursiquot & Dr. Rene |