March 18, 2020
We may be physically distant right now, but we are closer than ever in solidarity with the Haitian people. In the U.S. we are currently experiencing food and supply shortages, uncertainty in healthcare, financial crises, and huge disruptions to our normal life. These are situations that our Haitian brothers and sisters are all too familiar with. So let’s make this an opportunity to bridge the gaps and deepen our compassion for one another.
In this new world of social distancing, I’ve been comforted by the extra attempts I’ve seen to connect via technology. With that in mind, I wanted to give you an update from all of us at the Community Coalition for Haiti.
On March 5, 2020, the US State Department raised the travel warning level for Haiti from 3 (“reconsider travel”) to 4 (“do not travel”). The reasons they cited were “crime, civil unrest, and kidnapping.” At that time our staff and partners on the ground in Haiti felt safe and reported that things were mostly back to “business as usual” after the political protests and riots that disrupted the country from September through December 2019. However, the new State Department travel warning had us seriously considering safety issues for our upcoming volunteer trips to Haiti.
Within a week of that State Department bombshell, it became clear that COVID-19 (corona virus) presented an even greater threat to travelers. And yesterday (March 19, 2020) the US State Department released a “Global Level 4” travel warning recommending that US citizens suspend all international travel.
In response to the myriad current health and safety risks, CCH has suspended all travel between the US and Haiti now through the month of April. We have also postponed our benefit event at Lansdowne Resort in Leesburg, Virginia from March 28th to a later date this fall. We will still be hosting a VIRTUAL event 7:00-7:30pm on Saturday 3/28/20. Please check back on our website for details of how to join us then!
One big way you can help us right now is to buy a raffle ticket today and tune in to the live raffle drawing on March 28th.
Our U.S. staff already work from home, so that’s been one less adjustment to make. But now several of us have new and very demanding co-workers at the office now that our kids are home from school.
We’re COVID-19 planning in Haiti too. And with a heavy heart, I have to tell you that yesterday, Haiti announced its first two cases of the disease within its borders. “President Jovenel Moise told a news conference that all the Caribbean country’s ports, airports and borders would be closed to people from midnight on Thursday, though they would remain open for goods traffic. Schools, universities, places of worship and industrial parks would be closed, and a curfew would be in force from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. as of Friday, he added.” (REUTERS/Andres Martinez Casares, 3/19/20)
In preparation for pandemic, the last couple of weeks our medical leadership in Haiti have been training staff, patients and their families in universal precautions to prevent transmission of disease. Additional hand-washing stations have been set up outside our Primary Care Clinic and Rehab Center, and our cleaning staff remain diligent. We’re also communicating with the Ministry of Public Health to ensure that our actions align with protocols that they are developing. CCH staff have been working closely with partner schools and educators in our Education ministry to do what we can to encourage strong hygiene and safe practices.
Meanwhile, the regular work continues as our Haitian staff treat clinic patients, support schools, and partner with community groups. Our staff, students, teachers, and community partners in Haiti have already weathered significant turmoil, especially in the last six months. CCH’s decades of experience in Haiti have trained us to be nimble, but this perfect storm of factors strains our credulity and capacity. We continue to pray for Haiti. We invite you to pray with us.
TOP RIGHT: Students at EMEVO school use a hand washing station when they arrive at school.
BOTTOM: Chrisla and Estere (in their early 20’s) heard about our Primary Care clinic through their neighbors. They are both from a community called Coq Chante which is about 30 minutes away. Last week they stopped by our clinic to check out the Women’s Health Services we offer. Estere told CCH Clinic Coordinator Melissa Jean-Bart that it is never too early to start a GYN check up as she said she knew two middle aged women who died of breast and cervical cancer in her church.
