Clinic Day at SapaTrop Tent City March 12, 2010

Today we set up a mobile clinic and checked out a new area just a few miles down the road from our usual church clinic spot, at the request of the local Pastor, Vital. It was across from another tent city  here in Leogane called Sapatrop. I took a 5 min walk through it with my translator, the awesome young Mr.Innocent Stevenson, during a much needed water beak this afternoon.This tent city is newer and more organized. There are even latrines (tent latrines, but still) with private shower areas for people. There are some wooden constructed houses (the size of a large tent) as well, built by the Mennonites.

We saw a seemingly endless stream of patients in clinic, Matt the Paramedic doing triage and acting as a quasi-crowd control agent.Trish and I saw 50 or so pts each between 9 and 4. No one super sick but lots of babies and kids with fever, diarrhea, mild dehydration. Adults with stress symptoms, UTIs, stomach acid, asthma, and bronchitis stirred up by all the dust. Many complain of just weakness, body aches, headaches, and stomach discomfort daily since the Earthquake. Hard to treat sadness and poor nutrition. But I can say that in the tent city we saw people with food and produce, and they were cooking and appeared to be doing better in the way of nourishment. Some good looking coconuts lying around, too! We've got plans to buy one and chow down on it some afternoon before we leave. MM!

Just talked to Alli on the cell, and compared our days. They were quite busy in the Port au Prince clinic also. They have a little more staff and better crowd/flow management, and the added advantage of being in the same place daily where you can unpack once and leave it, establish a routine and stick with it. But I have to admit I do like being in more the rugged setting, with the mobile clinics traveling out to the remote, lesser served spots. It's adventurous! And, so, a little less comfortable. A block of concrete fell off the roof next to us during clinic today--didn't hit anyone, but just a little reminder that things are not stable and still shift. Be careful.

Alli tells me that Vivian (one of the nurses from MCDH/my hosp) ROCKED today in PaP! (props to ya Viv!)  And I can easily say that my guys, Trish and Matt, were just fantastic. They worked their butts off and handled so many things that they probably aren't used to doing--and they came and asked appropriate questions when needed. Occasionally they had me give a supervisory look at few people they were concerned about--and I really, really appreciate their work. We had no more than a 5 minute break through the whole day, and they handled it like troopers. Luckily we had some snacks that could be munched on the go or we might have gotten pretty run down by mid-afternoon.

Now that I've showered, I can see that the mosquitos had some fun with me last night. Not while I ws sleeping in my net, but when I was sitting up -like I am now- typing on the computer outside.
You bet I remembered the DEET this eve! Hoping the Chloroquine is working its magic.
There is huge wind tonight here, too. Came back to compound to find our large tent splattered to the ground as some of the critical poles were busted from the wind. I decided to can the tent and moved back into the good old gazebo where I'd stayed last time I was here. Tents are too much work! I am lucky I have the luxury of saying that, aren't I?..


As I sat and began this note, the people living nearby had one of many daily church services next door. That was around 5:30pm, and now it's 7 and it is quieting down. Last night they went until after 8pm. You can hear them singing, shouting testimonials and playing music-[real music-like, I heard some hyped up jazz just now]- in the church well into the night. I tell you --they work all day and go to church all night here. It keeps them going, I think. Keeps the community invested in the very daunting effort that lies ahead for the foreseeable future. Even if you aren't religious you can appreciate this, I think.

I will end here and go back and try to add some photos.
More tomorrow,

Jen