Mountain House Calls on LaGonave

Enjoyed the home visits. Sitting outside and chatting, giving advice very enjoyable for me. At each house we identified who actually lived there, if they had a latrine, any history of cholera in the last few months and then did a short history and physical exam.

After we finished with the exams and giving out any needed medications that we brought with us the paper cart was photographed and returned to the patient to hold on to for future medical visits.

The adults received toothbrush and toothpaste while the children received in addition a small bag containing some additional health items like soap, a toy, a bracket.

We prayed with each family before moving on to the next house.

DecAid plans to visit each house in the area over a two year time frame working along with CHE group.

Some soccer balls and jump ropes and other items for the local schools brought big smiles.

Following lunch the team allowed Eli, Anna and I to stop in at the church my dad built for a few pictures. Cory left for a garden tour so did not visit with us. A small crack occurred with the 2010 earthquake so additional cement pillars help to strengthen the corners.

Interesting to visit with the families. One house folks did know the value of eating chaya but the neighbors did not.

I saw 2 ladies, my first 2 in 15 years in Haiti who admitted to chronic smoking habits. One lady started before she reached 10 years old and smoked for over 65 years! They reported that some of the young people in the area also smoke so this will be an educational topic for further visits.

As part of the program the families will received one of the  Creole health books.

Talking along with the second lady smoker and her 4 sons the time crept away from me and our team delayed the return to town enough that the last of the journey occurred in the dark. Sorry team.

I consulted 3 missionaries while on LaGonave, thankfully nothing to major and all left Haiti for the holidays and can follow up as needed.

[Knowing some sharp eyes will notice the scub pants. I'll admit it felt weird being off campus in pants.

I asked our field director's wife and the hospital administrator knowing that often medical teams wear 'uniform' of scubs while on medical visits about what would be acceptable.

Fashions change here more slowly in the mountain villages away from the cities. You'll notice that Miss Vero also wore scrubs. Time changes things. ]