Haiti Medical Mission: day 11

Day 11- Friday march 26th

This week I saw two patients that people said had Voodoo spells put on them and basically they just were suffering from schizophrenia. It is sad that people would carry those beliefs because with the proper treatment they could get much better. One of the man looked like he was 70 years old and he was only 30. People were scared of him and avoided him.
There were also scenes of “getting the devil out” at the entrance of the church during the service. That kind of screaming and hysteria was having a profound impact on the children present and will certainly mark them not in a positive way. Honestly, that woman would not have been screaming and kicking if there were nobody present to see her. Regardless to say, I do not believe in any of that stuff.
One of the local doctors is a very tall and buffed man. He is very funny and starts the day by telling me: “we are toned today!!!” and then he shakes his arms in the air. By the end of the day, it is often funny to see that he has no energy left and then I tell him: “are you tuned-up” and we just laugh.