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community health

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Working Together

Team distributes food and provides medical care

By Dr. Joe and Linda Markee, HFH board members and team leaders:

“We are stronger when we work together.” This was the theme of the week for the recent medical team working in Haiti. (“A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” Ecc. 4:12)

Some of the beans and rice for distribution following Hurricane Matthew.

Some of the beans and rice for distribution following Hurricane Matthew.

We served in Terre Blanche, both in 2004 and 2008, after devastating hurricanes and floods. This month, we arrived just a week after Hurricane Matthew hit the country.

Although villagers in Terre Blanche did not receive the devastation that they experienced in earlier storms, they did lose all of their crops which the community depends on. This compounded the existing problem caused by a drought that had been going on for more than two years.

With news of Hurricane Matthew’s impending arrival, the Clinic of Hope staff prepared for flooding, cholera, safe areas, and other emergencies. Terre Blanche is thankful that they did not receive the total destruction like the southern areas of Haiti.

So what do you do to help after a hurricane has wiped out the main food source? We asked Pastor Delamy and he immediately responded, “You invest in the students … You increase their nutrition with fish and vegetables and provide an additional breakfast meal for the youngest students.”

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Young students enjoying spaghetti for breakfast.

So that is what happened. These young kids (about 70) received a spaghetti breakfast (a Haitian favorite). It was a joy to see them wait until all were served, then pray and begin eating.

Thanks to the many generous donors, rice and beans were distributed to about 800 people. Pastor Delamy and the fleet of community health volunteers were able to find the most needy and deliver food. There was much dancing and singing when they opened their doors and found M. Merci Dieu handing them food.

There are many reasons to be thankful that we were in Haiti at this time. One reason was a 10-day-old baby girl who was brought to the clinic because she had not opened her eyes. She had a severe eye infection from birth. With treatment and many prayers, her sight was saved.

Another mother came to the clinic with her hydrocephalic child. When her husband realized the condition of his child, he had kicked the mother and both children out of the home. She was left without resources. Fortunately, a staff member at the clinic was able to assist the family.

Thank you for your continued support.

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clinic

We support a permanent medical clinic, collaborate on a clean water project,…

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community health

We empower the communities we support to increase their education, health, and…

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economic development

We provide adult education, resources and local employment to support self-sufficiency.

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The Problem of Hunger

Hurricane Matthew destroys crops
One of the many banana orchards damaged by Hurricane Matthew.

One of the many banana orchards damaged by Hurricane Matthew.

Two of our board members have been in Terre Blanche this week and have seen first-hand the damage caused by Hurricane Matthew.

We are happy to report that everyone is safe and homes appear to be intact. The dirt road between Gonaives and Terre Blanche took a beating with the rain and is in bad shape, making travel more difficult.

The biggest challenge now is accessibility of food. For the past two years, this region, and much of Haiti, has struggled with drought, meaning many planted gardens never made it to harvest because of the dry conditions.

In this area of Haiti, many individuals and families depend on gardens or small fields for personal food, animal feed, or to sell produce at market. This makes the loss of crops devastating, especially when the loss repeats itself as it has in recent years.

Hurricane Matthew compounded the problem when the rain and wind destroyed crops yet again. Very few people have any food stored so acquiring meals is a daily struggle. We expect that food prices will increase in the coming months and hunger will be a chronic problem for a long time to come.

Students eating lunch at the school in Terre Blanche.

Students eating lunch at the school in Terre Blanche.

DONATE NOW TO HELP FIGHT HUNGER

In the midst of this difficult time, we are encouraged by the community health volunteers who continue to help their neighbors and are making plans for anticipated health concerns. We are also thankful for Pastor Delamy, his wife Elvire, and the many others who are working tirelessly to help these communities.

Please consider making a difference by donating to Haiti Foundation of Hope. Your gift will go directly to helping the people of Haiti. Because of your financial assistance, children receive a healthy school lunch each day, beans and rice are distributed to those most in need, and people are supported and encouraged through many other programs.

Thank you for all your help.

education

We fund primary school education, supplement staff salaries, subsidize secondary education, and…

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clinic

We support a permanent medical clinic, collaborate on a clean water project,…

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community health

We empower the communities we support to increase their education, health, and…

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economic development

We provide adult education, resources and local employment to support self-sufficiency.

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teams

Throughout the year we send medical teams to rural Northern Haiti to…

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When a Hurricane Strikes

Community Heath volunteers are ready to help
Girls collecting water from one of the wells put in by the community health program.

Girls collecting water from one of the wells put in by the community health program.

“Our children don’t die anymore.”

These are the words we heard from a young mother in Terre Blanche, Haiti during a recent visit by HFH board members Katie Thom and Steve and Beth Sethi.

We went to evaluate the progress of our community health program. We left celebrating after that same mother and many others shared excitedly how it used to be common for babies to die of diarrhea, pneumonia, labor complications and malnutrition. Now these are no longer daily threats.

Today, mothers know what to do when their children get sick and how to prevent illness. They credit the tireless work of their 45 neighbors, the area’s Community Health Volunteers (colvols).
Join us by supporting this on-going, community driven program in rural northern Haiti

As the people of Haiti struggle in the wake of Hurricane Matthew’s deluge, the network of colvols in Terre Blanche are fanning out to meet immediate needs.

Emergency food was distributed before the hurricane hit and people were notified to seek shelter at the school. These resilient and trained agents of change are activating their skills honed in the past seven years of making the lives of mothers and children better.

Colvols met with mothers to learn how their lives have changed since the start of the program. They named home visits by colvols and community meetings as the biggest influence in changing their health behaviors.

Colvols met with mothers to learn how their lives have changed since the start of the program. They named home visits by colvols and community meetings as the biggest influence in changing their health behaviors.

Only three years ago 62 percent of children in the area suffered from pneumonia. That figure is now down to 5 percent. Before the project started, 29 percent of women had access to a skilled health provider during childbirth. Today 100 percent are attended by a doctor, nurse or trained birth attendant during delivery.

A stunning 51 percent of children in the region were malnourished, now dramatically reduced to 17 percent. Where only 18 percent of pregnant women knew their HIV status, now 97 percent have been tested and can be treated to prevent transmission to their babies.

As we sat together in churches and under mango trees, we heard families praising the work of the colvols.

They are visiting homes regularly, teaching families how to prevent and treat common diseases, and how to best feed their children with the local foods available.

When children do get sick, families know to call their local colvol who will immediately help their child get medical care.

Some of the 45 community health workers: "We know now how to help each other more. We share with each other. We tell our neighbors when they need to go to the hospital."

Some of the 45 community health workers: “We know now how to help each other more. We share with each other. We tell our neighbors when they need to go to the hospital.”

Every week colvols hold rally posts, where children are weighed and their growth tracked. The whole community has caught on. If you don’t bring your children, someone will come find you to make sure you show up.

When a malnourished child is found, the colvols enroll that child and mother in a twice-weekly cooking and teaching class called Ti Foyer. Mothers learn how to use locally available foods to bring their kids back to health, with a 100 percent success rate of bringing malnourished children back to health and keeping them there.

One group of mothers celebrated the changes in their community and said, “The colvols don’t give us money. If they gave us money to go to the hospital, our children would die on the way. With the training we get from the colvols, we can prevent illness before our children get sick.”

At the Clinic of Hope, the doctors and nurses see far fewer children with diarrhea and pneumonia, a fact they attribute to the work of the colvols. One nurse said, “Where I can’t go, they go for me.”

On one of the final days of our evaluation, Madame Silia, the community health nurse, turned to us and said, “I now know the value of my work.”

Through the amazing survey results and the stories we heard in the communities, she and her co-laborers have come to see how their efforts are paying off. They have a renewed motivation to continue to serve their neighbors, knowing they are not only improving quality of life but saving lives every single day.

A new generation of children is growing up in this remote area of Haiti without fearing some of the deadliest illnesses.

Thank you for walking this transformational journey with the people of Haiti.

Join us in supporting these local efforts to transform the communities of Terre Blanche. The community health program has been supported for the last seven years through donors like you.

The program continues to grow and improve because you are providing on-going training, local supervision, and medical and teaching supplies.

Please become a monthly donor to the program, or consider a one-time gift. 

Written by Beth Sethi, HFH volunteer and past board member. 

education

We fund primary school education, supplement staff salaries, subsidize secondary education, and…

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clinic

We support a permanent medical clinic, collaborate on a clean water project,…

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community health

We empower the communities we support to increase their education, health, and…

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economic development

We provide adult education, resources and local employment to support self-sufficiency.

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teams

Throughout the year we send medical teams to rural Northern Haiti to…

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Hurricane Matthew

You can help

travel40Hurricane Matthew has left Haiti but not without causing significant damage. The crops in Terre Blanche and the surrounding area were all destroyed due to heavy rain and winds.

Local crops and gardens are people’s food source and livelihoods in this region. Our local volunteers have distributed food to some of those in need but food will continue to be a struggle for a long time.

You can help by donating to Haiti Foundation of Hope with the money to be used where it’s needed the most during this difficult time or to a program of your choosing. All donations are tax-deductible and will be used to help people as the community moves forward.

The region of Haiti where we work is no stranger to weather destruction, both from flooding and drought. With reliance on individual gardens and crops along with limited income and employment, families often struggle to have enough food each day.

Haiti Foundation of Hope provides ongoing programs which address this basic need. We subsidize education for nearly 1,000 children and each student receives a healthy meal during the day. There is an ongoing food distribution program for families who are most in need. Other programs, such as the women’s trade school and micro-loans, help families generate income.

It has been a long week for those in Haiti. In anticipation of the hurricane hitting the country, Haitian medical staff stayed at the clinic last weekend to be available if needed. Volunteers made use of a 4-wheel drive vehicle to distribute food. And the school was kept open for anyone needing a safe place to wait out the storm.

A medical team which was already scheduled to be in Terre Blanche this month will be arriving soon. For updates, be sure to return to haitifoundationofhope.org or find us on Facebook or Instagram.

The need in Haiti is great. Please consider donating to help the ongoing struggle. And, as always, keep Haiti in your thoughts and prayers.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

All of us at Haiti Foundation of Hope

education

We fund primary school education, supplement staff salaries, subsidize secondary education, and…

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clinic

We support a permanent medical clinic, collaborate on a clean water project,…

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community health

We empower the communities we support to increase their education, health, and…

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economic development

We provide adult education, resources and local employment to support self-sufficiency.

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teams

Throughout the year we send medical teams to rural Northern Haiti to…

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Hurricane Destroys Crops

Thoughts and Prayers for Haiti

fullsizerenderUpdate:

Hurricane Matthew has left Haiti but not without causing significant damage.

The crops in Terre Blanche and the surrounding area were all destroyed due to heavy rain and winds. Local crops and gardens are people’s food source and livelihoods. Our local volunteers have distributed food to some of those in need.

A medical team which was already scheduled to be in Terre Blanche this month will be arriving soon. We will keep you updated as we get more information.

The History and Help Needed:

The region of Haiti where we work is no stranger to weather destruction, both from flooding and drought. With reliance on individual gardens and crops and limited income and employment, families often struggle to have enough food each day.

Haiti Foundation of Hope provides ongoing programs which address this basic need. We subsidize education for nearly 1,000 children and each student receives a healthy meal during the day. There is also an ongoing food distribution program for those families most in need. Other programs, such as the women’s trade school and micro-loans, help families generate income. To give to these programs or other projects, donate online.

And, as always, please keep Haiti in your thoughts and prayers. Thank you.

education

We fund primary school education, supplement staff salaries, subsidize secondary education, and…

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clinic

We support a permanent medical clinic, collaborate on a clean water project,…

Learn More

community health

We empower the communities we support to increase their education, health, and…

Learn More

economic development

We provide adult education, resources and local employment to support self-sufficiency.

Learn More

teams

Throughout the year we send medical teams to rural Northern Haiti to…

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Hurricane Update

Heavy rain in Terre Blanche

img_5777It’s been raining hard in Terre Blanche and the surrounding area but so far everyone is safe from Hurricane Matthew, which swept across the country earlier today.

Our work is in the northwest region of Haiti, far from the hardest hit areas. Local volunteers have delivered food to a number of people and the school remains open to those in need of safe shelter.

There is concern that the river levels will continue to rise because of the amount of rain. And mud and landslides are always a concern with storms of this magnitude.

Thank you to everyone who has been keeping Haiti in their thoughts and prayers.

education

We fund primary school education, supplement staff salaries, subsidize secondary education, and…

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clinic

We support a permanent medical clinic, collaborate on a clean water project,…

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community health

We empower the communities we support to increase their education, health, and…

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economic development

We provide adult education, resources and local employment to support self-sufficiency.

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teams

Throughout the year we send medical teams to rural Northern Haiti to…

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Drought followed by Tropical Storm Isaac

And How to Help –

When Tropical Storm Isaac hit Haiti, the area of Terre Blanche and the surrounding region was already suffering due to an ongoing drought. The storm brought rain and wind, and gardens were destroyed. The gardens, however, were already lost due to a lack of rain. The food situation in Terre Blanche and the nearby communities is extremely tenuous right now. Haiti Foundation of Hope is working with in-country partners to address the problem. We will keep you posted as we learn more.

How to Help: As always, you can help by giving to the ongoing work in Haiti. Haiti Foundation of Hope supports education and meals for students, food for the needy, micro-loans, clean water filters, medical care, and more. All of these programs help Haitians as they rebuild from natural disasters.

GIVE ONLINE NOW

education

We fund primary school education, supplement staff salaries, subsidize secondary education, and…

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clinic

We support a permanent medical clinic, collaborate on a clean water project,…

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community health

We empower the communities we support to increase their education, health, and…

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economic development

We provide adult education, resources and local employment to support self-sufficiency.

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teams

Throughout the year we send medical teams to rural Northern Haiti to…

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Giving Hope

Written from Haiti:

Despite the difficulties of traveling in Haiti since the flooding, people continue to arrive at the Clinic of Hope. Our 14-member medical team is busy. We’ve had two babies born at the clinic this week and several over-night patients. A very sick little boy came here and was treated for typhoid. After two nights at the clinic and lots of care, his health improved. And this morning, we said our good-byes and sent him home to continue healing. When one of the doctors told the mother her son was doing better, the mother said she now had hope.

Here’s some of what’s happening beyond the clinic floor…

On the roof we’ve almost finished installing the solar panels. We’ve got much of the clinic running off of solar power rather than the generator which will end up saving money as fuel is expensive here — more than usual since the flooding.

In the school yard children are playing, and fourth, fifth and sixth grade students are studying in their classrooms. School started late this year because teachers couldn’t travel from their homes after the hurricanes. On Nov. 4, all the students will return to class. The school feeding program has expanded from lunch to lunch and breakfast because since the flooding it has been extremely difficult for people to find food.

Thanks again for your support. We look forward to sharing more stories after our return home.

education

We fund primary school education, supplement staff salaries, subsidize secondary education, and…

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clinic

We support a permanent medical clinic, collaborate on a clean water project,…

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community health

We empower the communities we support to increase their education, health, and…

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economic development

We provide adult education, resources and local employment to support self-sufficiency.

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teams

Throughout the year we send medical teams to rural Northern Haiti to…

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Medical Team Arrives

The October medical team has arrived in Haiti safe and sound. Our journey from Port-au-Prince was longer than usual. There was a detour along the coast and another one to get around the lake in the Artibonite Valley — a lake that formed during the recent hurricanes and flooding. The drive through Gonaives was eye-opening for all of us. For some members of our 14-person team this is their first time in Haiti. And for most us, this is the first time we have been here after such a disaster. The streets in Gonaives, which was hit especially hard during the flooding, are lined with mud that has been shoveled out of homes and businesses. Most of the flood water has receded but some residents are still living on their rooftops.

Outside the city, a river near the Clinic of Hope has torn away the land near it. The flooding left behind rocks on what used to be farm soil. One family lost their entire millet crop along with half of their land to grow it on. The good news, which sometimes seems hard to find, is that a new millet crop has been planted on the remaining land and it is growing. A young woman who works at the clinic, cooking meals for the medical team, lost everything when the flood waters struck her home in Gonaives. She had to escape to a friend’s house. The good news in this story is that she survived and is well.

These are hard times in Haiti. We hope to provide some encouragement and comfort to people who come through the clinic in the coming week. Thank you so much for your support for this team and for the people living in Haiti. Mesi anpil.

education

We fund primary school education, supplement staff salaries, subsidize secondary education, and…

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clinic

We support a permanent medical clinic, collaborate on a clean water project,…

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community health

We empower the communities we support to increase their education, health, and…

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economic development

We provide adult education, resources and local employment to support self-sufficiency.

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teams

Throughout the year we send medical teams to rural Northern Haiti to…

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Offering Comfort

Written from Haiti by Melanie Thomas, RN, member of a disaster relief team:

Hard to believe that just over a week ago we were notified by Medical Teams International that a disaster team would be sent to Haiti, and I’m even more in awe that I would have the opportunity to return to this beautiful country once again to serve. Our team of six made it here after a very LONG and BUMPY trek. Once again I’ve been blessed to be on a team with such amazing and gifted people.

We could see the damage caused by the hurricanes early in our trip. Roads and bridges were completely wiped out so we had to take lots of detours and “long way arounds.” Lots of mud. All over we could see on the houses how high the water got, as they were still wet. As we got closer to Gonaives, our team got quieter…whispers of “Oh my goodness.” It is even worse than we could have imagined. Houses still completely submerged under water. I could see just the roofs sticking out of the water. Every rooftop covered in furniture, clothes and belongings. We could see by the way everything was thrown on the roofs, the desperation people had to save what little they have. As we drove into Gonaives, there was mud everywhere, and I’m not talking about a little bit of mud on the road. What I’m describing is four feet of mud in and around houses. Most houses still have water coming out of the front door. Schools, buildings, hospitals, completely destroyed by the flooding.

I am reminded that God has a plan for each of us and a way for us to spread His love. What I saw today in the clinic as the workers showed up with open arms, smiles and an eagerness to serve, this is what loving is all about. Most of these people have lost everything, their homes, their belongings and some family members. But yet they are here, serving. They may have lost everything, but ask any of them, and they will say, “I still have hope. I have a God who loves me and will provide for me and my family. I must help my people.”

How do you make sense out of a situation that, quite frankly, makes no sense. And while none of us have the “whys,” we have something even greater. We have a blessed hope. We have peace that passes understanding. We have a joy unspeakable and full of glory. It is so important that we, as believers, rise to the situation and be the light to the world….the city that is set on a hill that cannot be hidden. Because we have the Holy Spirit dwelling within us, we CAN be the strength that others need to see. We can and must be Jesus to the world.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Christ Jesus, the Father of compassion and the God of all who comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort those with the comfort we, ourselves, have received from God (2 Cor 1:3-4)

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