May 1, 2021
Hello from Haiti!
Covid Makes a Comeback
Here in North America and in Europe, Covid is steadily declining. That is not the case in certain other parts of the world, and it certainly is not the case in Haiti. After several months of declining cases and loosening restrictions, Covid is once again raging through Haiti. The government has been forced to reinstate some severe public policies in an effort to get the situation back under control. Some of the variants from other localities, such as the UK and Brazil, are partially responsible for the resurgence of the virus.
Due to limited testing capacity and poor public health services, it is hard to know for certain how many cases there really are. But the people know when they are sick. The few hospitals with the means to treat the disease are at capacity and people are concerned.
Vaccinations are Unavailable
Haiti remains the only country in the Western Hemisphere that does not have access to vaccinations. COVAX, an organization operated by the World Health Organization, is working to make the AstraZeneca vaccination available in the country. This effort was paused due to some of the side effect concerns of this vaccination, and Haiti presents logistical challenges as well. There is a general lack of cold storage which makes distribution throughout the country challenging. The government and international aid agencies are working to resolve these issues, but there is no certain timeline.
Our Clinic in Cap-Haitien is Still Hard at Work!
Covid is not the only challenge our clinic faces. There is tremendous civil unrest, protests, roadblocks, kidnapping, and banditry throughout the country that has everyone on edge. This resurgence of Covid was the last thing the country needed. Even so, our faithful staff at the clinic continues to work under severe challenges. The clinic is not currently treating active Covid cases, but all other health challenges have not disappeared. The clinic continues to treat and care for people every day. We are grateful for their perseverance. We continue to be in need of medications to treat people. Often, we can diagnose a health issue, but do not have the capacity to treat it. Medications are available in the country. Our financial status is the roadblock to providing the full service we desperately desire for our patients.
Please Pray for Haiti!
It seems that almost every day brings a new challenge to Haiti. I know many of you pray for Haiti on a regular basis, and we appreciate it. Please continue to pray because we know God can make a way through these latest challenges. Of course, if you feel led to help financially with our need for medications, that would be a blessing as well. Thank you for your help, prayers, and support!
