During our outing on Monday afternoon, we found ourselves unexpectantly touring one of the hospitals in Port de Paix. The "taxis" dropped us off directly in front of what we soon found out was the emergency room. While we were there celebrating our victory over the rough roads and motorcycle rides, families were inside with loved ones that were sick and dying. I was heart broken when I realized how I behaved in front of these people. I felt terrible for celebrating while they were in pain.
I am not educated in a medical profession but as we toured the hospital and met with a few of the patients there, it was very clear that their medical system is severely lacking. In a city of roughly 175,000 people, this hospital had only about 16 patients. Imagine the local hospital near you having only a hand full of sick people. From what I understood, there are only 2 hospitals in the city. The facility was run down, not clean, lacked equipment and had only 1 or 2 nurses that I saw. Because services require prepayment, many people never get any treatment.
We had the opportunity to pray with a family who's young boy was covered in burns. The dressings on his burns seemed very dirty. We heard that his family had to bring their own bedding for the bed. This is a normal thing to bring your own bedding. We spoke with one lady that had an injury to her leg. Her X-ray was laying on the floor next to her bed. In order to receive treatment she would need to pay first. I felt like we were invading on the privacy of these families. We moved to another building. That building had the labor and delivery area. As a couple of our team members toured through that area, a woman invited the in to watch as she gave birth to her baby. It was an amazing experience for those team members but we left there wondering if we should have been there.
As I have been back home listening over the last few weeks to all of the political bickering and the announcements of open enrollment for the Affordable Healthcare Program (ObamaCare) I can not help but think about those patients at that hospital. We have so many choices in our healthcare needs. We all complain continuously about the programs....myself included. I have always been against this Affordable Healthcare Program. I now realize that although it may not be a perfect system, we have system. Consider what it would be like if you went to a hospital for a broken leg and were told, "We will fix it once you pay" or if your toddler fell into a charcoal cooking pot filled with boiling oil and burned his entire body and you had to ponder whether you could take him to a hospital for care.
I share this experience because as we walked through that hospital passed those sick and injured people, I knew there was nothing I could do for them. I am thinking about one of the questions that was asked of me in the Community English class on that morning..."Now that you have seen Haiti, what will you do?" Mister Rob helped me explain to those students that I would share my experience with others and show my photos so those that can help would know what needs to be done. I'm doing my part...as I promised.... I am sharing what I saw. I am still not sure what God's plan is with the information I share or for that amazing place called Haiti but I do know He has a plan for both!
Wow
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