by Johnna Lee

As I got off the plane, I did not know exactly what to expect from this month besides heat and sweat. I had gone to the Dominican Republic and Haiti before but always with a team I knew from home and never longer than a couple weeks. This was the first time I would be in Haiti for a month by myself, and much like my parents I was a jumble of nervous excitement except with less emphasis on the former compared to my parents.

During my time in Jacmel, I’ve had the privilege to intern for CCH at the health clinic. On Monday through Friday during the workday, I primarily shadowed the physicians at both the primary health care clinic and the physical therapy clinic to learn about healthcare in Haiti, the common health issues present here, and generally how to best serve those through healthcare. 

Second to “ Koman ou ye ” and “Mwen byen,” I quickly became familiar with the phrases “H. pylori,” “infection vaginale” and “infection urinale” as well as “tansyon wo” (or high blood pressure) and “diabetes.” These were by far the most common issues people came in with. I had been previously aware of most of these problems with the exception of H. Pylori, a bacteria that causes gastrointestinal pain and can cause ulcers. After asking the doctors, it seemed that most of these non-chronic diseases stemmed primarily from unsanitary conditions: unclean food, water, and poor sanitation practices. It became clear that patient education is very much needed in order to relieve the double burden of disease, a term referring to the rise of communicable and non-communicable diseases especially in developing countries.

I also learned about the amazing work the doctors for CCH do and the ways to provide effective care efficiently due to the high volumes of people who need care. Dr. Francois taught me it is important to make the patient feel comfortable especially when patients may be hesitant to share information due to social norms. Dr. Riche taught me that sometimes tough love is needed if the patient is not cooperating. Dr. Saint-Germain taught me it is possible to find a balance between efficiency and thorough care. They all taught me the importance of cooperation with others in the field and the heart of serving others first.

Besides things directly connected to health, something that left a larger impression on me was the warmth, love, and resilience of the Haitian people. After spending a month in Haiti, I fell in love with the culture with their love of the arts, love of those around of them, and the joy that radiated out of so many people I met, even if living conditions were hard. All the laughs I had, conversations about Haiti’s past and present, and relationships I built have left a lasting impression on me. Not to mention the beautiful hills and beaches I would pass by.

All in all, this trip helped me figure out my calling, as I was previously unsure about what I should do with my life. Now I know that I definitely want to serve others in developing countries.

Johnna was a long-term volunteer with the Community Coalition for Haiti in July-August 2019.