Dr Matt Roberts, team 8, shares his experience in Haiti. There is still so much to be done. Please keep Haiti and it’s beautiful people in your prayers.
Dear Friends and Family,
I have safely returned from Haiti, and am so happy to see my family again. I have been spending the last couple of days with them.
The situation in Haiti remains dismal. The damage throughout the main city of Port au Prince is enormous. Current estimates are 230,000 dead, 300,000+ injured, and over a million are homeless and living in makeshift “tents”.
It is currently 2 1/2 months post quake. While the medical caseload is decreasing in acuity and severity, there is still lots of medical care needed. The 2 hospitals in Port au Prince were destroyed in the quake, so currently most of the medical care for the people of Haiti is provided by the tent and make-shift hospitals that have been established.
The destruction of the city is made worse by the lack of resources and infrastructure in Haiti. I could see no efforts at recovery while I was there. People were just living among the destruction. Kids were playing, and people bathing in rivers piled high with garbage and disease. As many of you know, Haiti is the poorest country in the Americas. On average, a Haitian must live on less than $2 per day.
Medically, only about half of Haitian children are vaccinated, and only 40% of Haitians have access to medical care. HIV infection is present in 5% of the population. 90% of children suffer from waterborne diseases or intestinal parasites.
Needless to say, there is still much, much to be done in Haiti.
The Texas Orthopedics/Hill Country Bible Church mission to Haiti is based at the Mission of Hope Haiti. (http://www.mohhaiti.org/) This is an incredible organization which seeks to give Hope to Haiti by educating the children, feeding the people and raising orphans to be future leaders in Haiti. Check out their website for complete info. It is amazing what this group is able to do normally in Haiti, not to mention what they have done since the Quake. They have different opportunities to donate to them if you so feel inclined, such as sponsoring a child’s education, or a general donation to fund their feeding of the people, or funding the medical clinic.
My life and perception of what is of value has been changed through my experiences in Haiti. The Haitians have nothing, no home, no money, and no foreseeable improvement in that situation, yet, they are happy, joyful people. The ladies sing hymns every morning while waiting in line to be seen in the clinic. They may wait hours to be seen, and are pleasant and happy to be seen, even after sitting with a toddler in the heat all day. Their faces may be tired and expressionless, but all it takes is a smile and a greeting of Bon Jou, and their faces light up, they smile and respond in kind.
Many have lost everything they have. Many young teens and kids are the only survivors of their families. Others, parents, have lost all of their children and spouses. There are hundreds of stories of these people, all of which will make you feel deep sorrow for them, and make you realize just how great we have it here.
Here is a link to some photos from Haiti. http://gallery.me.com/mattamyroberts#100303
I thank you to those who donated to my trip, and encourage you to help with this tragedy. I hope to return in the future to serve these people again.
Thanks,
Matt