Things just continue to be difficult for Haiti.
Things have never really gotten “back to normal” since this all started with the big blow-up in July of 2018.
Yesterday started a time of lock down. They are attempting to lock the country down with protests until the Prime Minister resigns from power.
There is very little city electricity, fuel is nearly impossible to find, and food is very expensive and in short supply.
It has been at least 5 months since you could just drive into a gas station and fill up. There are currently lines that go for blocks — and motorists don’t even know if the station will be out of gas by the time they get to the pump.
It has been reported that as much as 70% of the gas that is getting into the country is going directly to the black market — and people know it. This drives the price of everything up. Not to mention the frustration and the suffering. And that does not include the unrest, crime, and gang activity.
People are hurting and desperate and this is increases the needs in the clinic daily.
A lot of cute kids, and a lot of need.
Medical clinic has been filled each day since I returned.
People cannot afford to eat, so medical care that isn’t free is not even considered. So many of the issues and complaints that I see are directly related to the current political and instability situation.
Many people are sick because of the lack of access to good nutrition and adequate water.
This compromises their immune system — making them more susceptible to illness. There are also a lot of skin issues. All good water must be purchased in Port-au-Prince. This includes water for bathing and washing hands. As a result, people are prone to infections due to their limited supply.
It’s also cheaper to buy powdered laundry soap than regular bath soap. So, when people bathe in laundry soap, the chemicals often cause skin issues and infections.
So many sick kids these days
All this also makes it very difficult to find help some times.
The other day Chinaida came to the clinic with her father. Her head was wrapped up and I thought maybe she was looking for our wound care program.
As the story unfolded, Chinaida had tried to go on a little vacation with some friends to the southern peninsula of Haiti. They were involved in a very serious bus accident (several fatalities were reported).
Dad said that they had slowly been making there way back to Port-au-Prince. Except for an eye doctor, who thankfully determined her eye was going to be OK, none of the clinics or hospitals that they stopped at had anyone who could see them or help them due to the unrest and fuel situation in the country.
Chinaida on her first day in the clinic
It was day 9 since the accident and we were the first help that they found!
She was doing quite well mentally and neurologically which was a very good thing. But she had probably at least a half a liter of fluid or blood under her scalp. It was very soft and easily moved around which was a concern. I put them on a moto and sent them to the hospital for X-rays. (They determined she has a skull fracture.)
Thankfully she is now doing well, and will only require some monitoring as she heals. She will come to the clinic for follow ups until we know there will be no other complications.
Her father was very pleased to have the reassurance that his daughter will be OK — despite the way her head looks right now.
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The desperation has created an additional 1 million people who are in an emergency food insecurity crisis in just the last couple months. This on top of the millions who were already there.
This has increased the number of patients in our malnutrition program. It is sad to see the kids on their first day. They say that a truly malnourished kid will not smile. And I can attest to that.
It is so encouraging to see kids’ demeanor change over the weeks as they get healthier. Getting healthier makes them happier.
In addition to helping them overcome malnutrition, we also take care of other medical issues they have. Being healthy gives kids the best chance of surviving the many difficulties of life in Haiti. And our clinic helps them be healthy.
The tumultuous conditions in Haiti have had an equally difficult effect on the maternity clinic.
I have admitted 12 new patients in the 4 clinics since I returned. They need the free maternity care, because, without it, there would be no prenatal care at all. Many of the moms are having trouble maintaining weight during their pregnancies — they should be gaining weight.
Anemia has always been an issue in Haiti, but it has become noticeably worse recently. Most of my Mama’s have some level of anemia due to a lack of iron-rich foods in their diet.
We provide Iron supplements to try to improve this before they deliver. Of my 12 new patients, some have been critically anemic. I have had 2 who were 6.4 and 6.8 (a normal hemoglobin level is 12.0 to 16.0 for a female). That would get you an emergency blood transfusion in the U.S. All I can do is give them Iron, tell them the foods to eat, and hope for the best. I had one mom who was at 4.4.
I sent her to the hospital for a blood transfusion but the likelihood of that happening is slim. You must send 6 people to the Red Cross to donate blood before they will send 1 unit of blood to you in the hospital. It is a long process (5 to 6 days normally) and the chances of getting shot while your’e downtown is high.
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We also continue to have trouble with sometimes not following the education that is done at clinic.
The struggle is real for these little ones sometimes.
Day 17 without a bath.
They are so against giving their kids baths early on. They wrap them up in 2 outfits with long sleeves and pants, hats, socks, and a big blanket then do not want to give them a bath because they will get a chill and get sick. It is a struggle to change the thought process of some.
But sometimes they are doing what they are supposed to and are happy and healthy!
Always a blessing to be able to love on the little ones!
I want to THANK-YOU for your generosity while I was back in Michigan to help cover the cost of the stolen items!! I have been able to replace my batteries and inverter, and my power is back on! Like everything else, prices have gone up significantly. And it cost more than originally anticipated, but it was still covered through your gracious support!
Because of your faithful giving you also have a part in bringing hope and health to each of the faces in this post, as well as the many more not seen as well as all the parents of these kids. I couldn’t do this without you!
You make this work possible.
Please continue to pray for Haiti, the kids, and the families who are hurting. Please pray for the ministry of Kelby’s Kids and for continued safety in these difficult and uncertain times.
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In case you missed the last update I wanted to be sure that you knew about Anne. Anne’s health was declining over the last several weeks and she passed away as a result of her condition on August 22nd, just 5 days after her 20th birthday.
If you scroll down on this page, you can see the complete update on her. I recently learned that she still passed her high school completion test (Philo Exam) on July 1st — despite being sick. And despite all the school she missed over the last year.
I am proud of her for never giving up.
Anne Phanora Carmelia Jean 08/17/2002 - 08/22/22
A photo posted by her mom for the funeral announcement. Such a beautiful young woman — gone too soon.
Until No Child Dies,
Kelby