Update on the Mobile Medical Clinic in Haiti:
We met with Dr. Yanne at the end of one of her Mobile Clinic visits in Dufort. There were about seven patients still waiting to be seen by Dr. Yanne. Several were children around 2 years old. Inside the makeshift clinic, Dr. Yanne met with patients and administered medicine from several very organized mobile medical supply containers. It was evident that she took great care in helping each patient and thoroughly explained her diagnosis and prescribed treatment. On average she sees about 25 patients per Mobile Clinic visit which takes her about 4-5 hours. Last year we began a program with Dr. Yanne where patients who could not afford mobility support equipment such as crutches, braces, and splints were able to borrow those items from Dr. Yanne. She was pleased to report that every patient returns the items when they are better so that others can use them as well. We were also able to ask Dr. Yanne a few questions about the Mobile Clinic:
Q: Now that the Mobile Clinic has been going for about a year and a half, what have you learned from this experience?
A: Ah yes, I have no words. It has been a very beautiful experience. One thing is to be sitting behind a wall and another thing is to be able to reach the community, to reach the space of every corner of so many people with such difficult access to health services. It makes you feel the most useful and fulfilled person serving the people who really need it.
Q: How difficult has it been for you making this transition to the Mobile Clinic?
A: I had to start from scratch and put in many hours and days of work. This year it’s been smoother and I have organized my programs more. I have a concentrated team and that makes my job easier. We have problems in this country but nothing, thank God, has prevented us from missing a single day of work. I want to say that my greatest achievement has been to reduce the number of gastrointestinal infections and yeast infections in the communities where we have worked. Statistically, the number of people with these infections was very high and it has now been greatly reduced which gives me great personal satisfaction. Additionally, many churches and schools have asked me to hold programs to teach hygiene and the importance of drinking clean water.
Haiti is part of the most mountainous island in the Caribbean which means that many areas of Haiti are very hard to access. Many people in Haiti live several hours of rough mountainous roads away from the nearest medical facility. When they are sick or there is an accident, it is very difficult for them to receive treatment and many cannot afford it. The Haiti Mobile Clinic led by Dr. Yanne travels to these remote areas and treats the people who do not have the means or access to medical care. Additionally, Dr. Yanne holds educational classes on the importance of obtaining and drinking clean water to help avoid many medical complications that arise from drinking contaminated water. The Haitian people are very grateful and all contribute what they can afford to the cost of the medical services. The rest of the funding comes from the generosity of donors that allows the mobile clinic to continue operation.
The Haiti Mobile Clinic has made an incredible difference in the lives of many Haitian people. In July 2020 alone, Dr. Yanne visited 14 different locations and treated over 300 patients. That’s an average of 15/day – compared to 7/day at her previous clinic! She has been inspired by the impact that she is having on these remote communities. Before each location is visited, she determines a suitable location to hold the clinic that is central to the community and then puts out the word that she will be able to treat patients on the day she is visiting. Each visit brings new challenges but it is very rewarding for Dr. Yanne to be able to help those who cannot afford a traditional hospital or are not able to access medical treatment. Often the roads are so impassable to reach these communities, Dr. Yanne must use donkeys or motorcycles to bring her supplies with her. Below is a map that shows her Mobile Clinic locations. The pin that says “No further today” shows where on one visit the roads were so muddy and treacherous that the driver had to stop and turn around. Dr. Yanne is planning on setting up a mobile clinic location halfway to those communities as a compromise.
One patient that illustrates the impact of the Haiti Mobile Clinic lived in a remote part of Haiti and suffered a severe machete accident. His hand was severed from between his pinky finger and the rest of his fingers all the way down to the wrist. Dr. Yanne visited that area and was able to give him medical treatment that he would not have had access to otherwise. She spent three hours surgically repairing his hand. She was unsure that he would ever be able to use the hand again but several months later she returned to visit that location and the man had made a remarkable recovery thanks to the medical assistance of the Haiti Mobile Clinic!
Dr. Yanne also saved the life of a malnourished baby through her medical treatment and nutritional advice.
The HSHM is seeking ongoing funding to keep this unique mobile clinic running. Most of Dr. Yanne’s patients contribute to the cost of their treatments as much as they are able but the rest must be supported by donors. We are really excited about this new program and the impact it is having on remote communities in Haiti! Please visit the Donate and Get Involved page to support the mobile clinic. Thank you very much for your continued support.