Haiti Day 10: Malaria & Hypertension

I saw my first case of malaria today but I can't count the number of cases of hypertension. Hypertension seems to start so young here. Our youngest case since I have been here came in today, an otherwise healthy 18 year old male. He was brought in by his mother. The others have been young women. They all came in complaining of headaches, which we could have guessed given their high blood pressure readings. The patients were placed on anti-hypertensives and advised to monitor their salt intake.

I have asked the nurse and the doctors about what seems to me to be an unsual phenomenon. I came to Haiti with the impression that infections diseases like Malaria were much more prevalent then chronic diseases like hypertension. By I stand corrected. So why the discrepency?

Malaria has come with the rainy season and for the most part, can be controlled at home. People are so familiar with the signs and symptoms of malaria that it's hard to misdiagnose: intermittent fever, red urine, extreme thirst.

The doctors responded to my question as followes: hypertension is pervasive because of the stress of living in poverty, the fear of violence, the lack of opportunity, and the list goes on. The nurse responded to my inquiry by saying that if anywhere would have hypertension it most certainly would be Haiti.

Haiti Day 9

We've been seeing several patient with upper respiratory infections, colds, It's rainy season which more often than not equates to cold/flu season here. Our patients are typically women and their children. Today I saw something that piqued my interest from the cultural anthropolgy perspective.

I father came in with his 6 year old son. Typically when a young child comes in we ask his parent all the relevant question relating to the onset of disease, signs, and symptoms. Mothers often answer these questions in more detail than is necessary. This father on the other hand was concerned about his son's health but could not anwer a single question about the nature of his illness other than what could be discerned from the physical exam. Fortunately, he wasn't seriously ill. We ordered so comfimatory test and all was well.

I asked the doctor about the exam. He said that mother are just more observant than fathers. And that was that. I wonder if thats the case else where. Are mother's more observant than father's back in the states too?

Haiti Day 8

Missy, one of FHM country Coordinators, came to visit today. She wanted to make sure I was getting the most out of my month here and adjusting well. She joined our morning prayer and worship at the clinic. Then we chatted about my experiences here.

Later that day she brought me 2 gifts: a great stethescope and a Haitian Hymnal! She made my day.
Afterwards, she drove me into downtown Port-au-Prince (the Del Mar area) and we had pizza and slurpies at a Epi D'or Resturant and ended our trip at a local super market. The super market was like a mini-Walmart and a Haitian store wrapped into one with the merchandise costing about as much as it would cost in the states.

It was a long drive due to the traffic so we were able to share our different motivations for being in Haiti. Missy's journey is an interesting one. She and Pastor Luke (pastor of the church that I attended yesterday) are examples of people that are working fulltime in Haiti in response to God call in their lives. I admire their determination.

Haiti Day 7

I went to Church today, service was from 6am-8:30ish. Church is on the compound so there is need to go more than a few feet to attend. In all honesty the service is so loud that I could probably here everything from the comfort of the roof or perhaps my bed. But there is something to be said about communal worship that can not be replaced in my mind.

I was ready for Christian community. I did not realize how much I craved it until last night. All the other longterm volunteers (volunteers committing at a month or more of their time to serving the community) and I decided to have a daily Bible study. The plan going in was to have BB lead both worship and the study since he was a theology school grad. We now decided that we will share responsibility as we feel led (and he will of course be our guide). I have my private time with God but I really enjoyed  the study.

I woke up feeling refreshed and perhaps seeing Haiti with new eyes. This is truely a beautiful country. From the roof the guesthouse this morning I could see the mountains. They seemed to be snuggling underneath a thick blanket of clouds. The air was is crisp and the green of the mountain side seems to roll on forever. I have to pinch myself, am I really seeing this. Am I really here?!

I snapped out of my daydreaming when I heard the pastor welcoming the congregation. I looked down and it was 5:50am! Wow! To my surprise they were already starting service. Church starts on time in Haiti!

I ran down to the church to catch the beginning of the first hymn. It sounds familiar. And my mouth breaks into a smile. I'm going to like this church I thought to myself. The church is non-denominational, but has Baptisit leanings and even uses the same Haitian Hymnal that we used in my church back in Florida.

My only regret is that I did not bring my Haitian Hymnal. I recently purchased one but left it in Chicago. Fortunately they sang some common hymns and ended service with my all time favorite hymn. It was a bit more complex but it is afterall my favorite so I enjoyed it.

The BEST part of the service by far was the sermon, it was given by a visiting pastor. He spoke about the value of children. He reminded the congregation that all children are precious gifts from God that should be watch over, cared for and guided with the utmost care; we will all be held accountable for the gifts that God has given us.

That was my Sunday...Be Blessed & Stay Blessed :-D

Haiti Day 6

The clinic is closed on the weekends. So today marks my first day off since I started. But the days here begin with the rooster's crow and the hustle and bussle of the city can be heard from every direction, so I am up before 6 everyday. Fortunately, I am a morning person and I welcome the cool morning breeze we've had this week. It has been unusually cool in Haiti; in fact, it has been cold enought to wear a hoodie all week.

I have been spending my spare time reflecting on the cases that we have seen in the clinic, getting to know the long term volunteers living on the compound, and catching up on some reading.

As it turns out my cousin has been detained with some pressing personal matters so we will have to meet up next weekend. That works. I am going to get back to my reading, there is nothing like a good book on a rainy day.

Haiti Day 5: Uh Oh...I think I'm in trouble

I spoke to my mother briefly a few days ago to let her know that I was safely in Haiti. Unfortunately that was not good enough for her. She has been worried sick over me. And to make matters worse I  mistakenly gave her the wrong emergency contact number. So what did my Haitian mother do?

She gets a hold of the only relative we have in the city of Port-au-Prince in hopes that I have run into him in one of the clinics. He is a doctor who has worked with the clinics that I am affiliated to. But I have not met him as of yet. This troubles her so she sends him on a wild goose chase to find me. He obliges her and ends up in the neighboring city of Leogane. Family Health Ministries is headquartered in Leogane. He asks for me and discovers that I am not there.

Fortunately, I mentioned his name to the program coordinator on our way to Haiti so when he was taken to her she recognizes his name and gives him my number after failing to contact me herself on the emergency phone that she issued me. As it so happens I rarely carry the emergency phone on me out of fear that I might lose it. Once I got back to my room, I realized that I missed 8 calls and was a bit disurbed.

I eventually touched based with my cousin. He was very pleased to finally get a hold of me and has invited me to his home for the weekend. We both called my mother soon after that conversation. She reminds me to stay in touch and be safe. I promise that I will and inform her that I will be hanging out wiht my cousin. I am looking forward to seeing another part of the city. I'll let you know how it goes.
I love my mom! Yes, she can be a little over zeolous when it comes to worrying about us, but when all is said and done. I know it comes from a place of love. And I know she would go to the ends of the earth and back for me.

Haiti Day 4

I feel much better this morning.

I am currently in one of the clinics in Port-au-Prince run by Family Health Ministries. I work with three doctors and 2 nurses who shift betweend different clinics in the region. On my second day here I worked with pulmonary physican. He did a lot of primary care work: he has to meet the needs of the people. As it turns out there are a lot of uppper respiratory issues in this population. He had me listen to their lungs and even advised me on the steps (just as I had learned them during my physical exam skills course). My only regret is that I did not bring my stethescope. I can hardly make out the rails etc. that we are getting with the stethoscope I've been given.

Yesterday, I worked wiht a ob/gyn. Again taking a history and basic Physical Exam (PEX) skills were absolultely necessary for diagnosis and treatment. I thank God that I get another shot at PEX, I promise to make learning the details a priority. The clinicans here would ask questions like "what is the color of your sputum", they checked lymph nodes, and listent to lung and heart sounds when necessary.

The main tools we use are: stethescope, otoscope, thermometer, and blood pressure guage. Its great!

K I have to get to work.
Peace

Haiti Day 3

I have been coughing all night and day and I feel miserable. My body is achy too, but that may be due to the exercises I did this morning. No fever, just a sore throat and dry cough. I'm blaming the fans and the dust. I will not use the fans tomorrow!

People at the compound/guest house that I am staying in have been asking about my health so I must look sick too...and here I was proud of myself for never-ever getting sick when I travel. There goes my record, and in Haiti of all places.

I hope that my desicion not to take anti-malarials doesn't come back to bite me.

The doctor that I worked with at the clinic prescribed some antigrippe cough syrup stuff that taste pretty nasty so its probably good for me and some antihistamines. I am going to take some Benadryl and try to get some sleep.