Day 3: Woman’s Medical Clinic

Today we walked across the street from Rea’s to assist at the mobile medical clinic. When most people picture a mobile medical clinic, they think of a group of people traveling to severely remote places in order to supply medical assistance. Today, our’s was right next door.

Haiti’s hospital system is virtually nonexistent. In public hospitals, doctors and nurses just don’t show up some days. While in the private hospitals, visits are unaffordable. Because of these obstacles, many people do not have any access to medical care. That is why these mobil medical clinics are so important for the people of the community. It may be there only chance to see a doctor until the next clinic is run.

We spent the morning sorting pills and pouring a variety of liquid medicine into individual bottles. As the day went on, more and more people piled in to the waiting area to be seen. Once our pharmaceutical duties were finished, we each took turns helping the nurses take vitals. Some of us even took our first blood pressure reading! As we are able to get more involved in the clinic, we are able to better understand the incredible impact these nurses and doctors have on the communities.

After the clinic, we were able to sit down and speak with the nurses and doctor. They shared the reality of medical care in Haiti. Madam Florentine works night and day to help the people of the community, since there is not easy access to hospitals. These nurses dedicate their lives to helping people.They will travel with patients 2 hours to a hospital when there are no doctors working in Port au Prince. Yesterday, we saw first hand just a sliver of the incredibly hard work these nurses perform on a daily basis.