We reluctantly closed our doors in late July 2011 and took a few
months to regroup and plan for a more sustainable and permanent clinic setting.
We were soon offered the use of part of a private home in Petionville, in
exchange for improvements we make to the property. Our amazing friends at
Rainmaker Fundraising traveled to Haiti with us in December and did incredible
things in just 5 days. The construction
crew hired several local Haitian laborers, along with Andrew our clinic
manager, to help them complete the project. We now have an indoor clinic space
of 12x 25 with electric available for lights, fans (yeah!) and even an
ultrasound machine. We also have a locked storage room with shelves, a toilet,
and sink with running water!!! Rainmaker rebuilt the retaining wall adjacent to
the clinic to keep our volunteers safe and added a ramp entrance to the clinic.
Rainmaker ROCKS!!! Andrew also has proven to be a man of many talents and was a
big part of seeing this project to completion.
We officially re-opened January 16, 2012 and hired our first Haitian
Rehab Technician. His name is Camille Frantzo and he is a recent graduate of
the new program at Hospital Albert Schweitzer. We have had several teams of
wonderful volunteers travel to mentor Frantzo and Andrew and are now scheduling
through the end of 2012. There are few NGOs left in the Port au Prince area
still providing therapy services. Most have run out of funding and departed. In
spite of the fact that we never had access to formal funding, (or maybe because
of it!) we are still here and still treating large numbers of patients each
week. The clinic continues thanks to our dedicated volunteers and the support
of friends, family and church. Perhaps someday we will convince a group of the
importance of clinics within communities for therapy, education, and peer
support for the disabled in Haiti. Until then, we are determined to push
forward!
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