NOVA Hope for Haiti - Bringing Urgent Humanitarian Aid to the People of Haiti

In reality, a “typical NOVA mission week” does not exactly exist because each passage to Haiti is defined by its own set of circumstances governed by the political tone of the moment, prevailing weather conditions, the uniqueness of team dynamic, the given mission patient population with its incidence of sickness or wellness, the emergency outriders who inevitably present and always leave their indelibly emotional impact, carving their place of unforgettable and instant recall in the future consciousness of each team member.

Nor does the dramatic week in Haiti represent a mere week, rigorous though it usually is. Each mission trip requires a home team effort of planning and preparation equal in importance and commitment to the trip itself. Data from immediately prior missions must be analyzed and newly encountered disease processes catalogued to know how the pharmacy formulary requires implementation and updating for subsequent missions. Medicines must be ordered from an international philanthropic low-cost supplier in Amsterdam two months ahead of the scheduled mission date, shipped to Haiti and be dedouaned by our Charge d’Affairs in Port-au-Prince. The logistics of domestic transportation to NOVA’s clinic 5 hours across country in Cavaillon, vehicle rentals, translation services, lodging and food for 20 to 25 people, and the procurement of sterile safe water for consumption of 15 gallons per day are only a few of the requirements leading to a safe and successful mission.

Many of these trips encounter at least one or two illnesses that require specialty care, and when this cannot be found and financed by NOVA/Presentation in Haiti, arrangements must be made for transfer of the patient, usually a child, to the United States for pro bono care. Haitian procurement of a US medical visa is a Herculean process requiring literally dozens of letters and phone calls and months of time.

The “medical missionary’s week” itself has been a variable experience these past 10 missions. At times we have lived in humble quarters and had the water for showers and toilets carried to us up mountains in 5-gallon, 45-pound pails on the heads of literally hundreds of appreciative community women. At other times we have resided in very comfortable hotel accommodations but have had to travel two hours going to and returning from the actual clinic. The teams’ camaraderie and sense of community and purpose has always been beyond expectation and, in fact, a highlight of the trip. However, one rare group was fractious by virtue of a divisive member and consequently NOVA’s responsible organizers now carefully interview and select out new team members from the volunteer pool. Two past mission trips were outright cancelled because of political instability and civil unrest at the time of scheduled departure and no mission trip is pursued if it would pose even the hint of imminent danger to any of the participants.

The first morning of the clinic is spent setting up the examination booths with privacy sheets suspended on horizontal ropes close to the ceilings. The medicines must be catalogued and set up ready for dispensing, clustered in therapeutic groups and arranged alphabetically. An intake desk is set up to register and triage patients and pre printed 5 x 7 file cards are used as charts. Each patient is evaluated and attempts are made to place the sickest patients at the head of the waiting benches. Noise can be very disruptive to the examination process and the majority of the waiting crowd is held at bay outdoors. Attempts are made to erect tarps for protection against the elements. We usually draw the expertise from surgeons, internists, specialists in infectious disease and pediatricians. The pediatric population represents the largest number of patients and it is extremely helpful to have a pediatric specialist on NOVA team. About 60% of the patients are well and come seeking minor medications and reassurances, but a good 40% have bone-fide medical issues and of these roughly 10% have critical issues requiring immediate care, in some instances literally life-saving. Intestinal parasitoses are endemic from contaminated water and frequently the same sources are used for washing and personal consumption. The patients are usually very orderly and appreciative and always present themselves in their sole set of Sunday best clothes. The experience in Haiti is usually a humbling one because exposure, comparison and reference inevitably result in a recalibration of American suburban values and priorities. The provider often derives more personally from the trip than the Haitian peasant that he or she went to treat.


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	In reality, a “typical NOVA mission week” does not exactly exist because each passage to Haiti is defined by its own set of circumstances governed by the political tone of the moment, prevailing weather conditions, the uniqueness of team dynamic, the given mission patient population with its incidence of sickness or wellness, the emergency outriders who inevitably present and always leave their indelibly emotional impact, carving their place of unforgettable and instant recall in the future consciousness of each team member. Nor does the dramatic week in Haiti represent a mere week, rigorous though it usually is. Each mission trip requires a home team effort of planning and preparation equal in importance and commitment to the trip itself. Data from immediately prior missions must be analyzed and newly encountered disease processes catalogued to know how the pharmacy formulary requires implementation and updating for subsequent missions. Medicines must be ordered from an international philanthropic low-cost supplier in Amsterdam two months ahead of the scheduled mission date, shipped to Haiti and be dedouaned by our Charge d’Affairs in Port-au-Prince. The logistics of domestic transportation to NOVA’s clinic 5 hours across country in Cavaillon, vehicle rentals, translation services, lodging and food for 20 to 25 people, and the procurement of sterile safe water for consumption of 15 gallons per day are only a few of the requirements leading to a safe and successful mission. Many of these trips encounter at least one or two illnesses that require specialty care, and when this cannot be found and financed by NOVA/Presentation in Haiti, arrangements must be made for transfer of the patient, usually a child, to the United States for pro bono care. Haitian procurement of a US medical visa is a Herculean process requiring literally dozens of letters and phone calls and months of time. The “medical missionary’s week” itself has been a variable experience these past 10 missions. At times we have lived in humble quarters and had the water for showers and toilets carried to us up mountains in 5-gallon, 45-pound pails on the heads of literally hundreds of appreciative community women. At other times we have resided in very comfortable hotel accommodations but have had to travel two hours going to and returning from the actual clinic. The teams’ camaraderie and sense of community and purpose has always been beyond expectation and, in fact, a highlight of the trip. However, one rare group was fractious by virtue of a divisive member and consequently NOVA’s responsible organizers now carefully interview and select out new team members from the volunteer pool. Two past mission trips were outright cancelled because of political instability and civil unrest at the time of scheduled departure and no mission trip is pursued if it would pose even the hint of imminent danger to any of the participants. The first morning of the clinic is spent setting up the examination booths with privacy sheets suspended on horizontal ropes close to the ceilings. The medicines must be catalogued and set up ready for dispensing, clustered in therapeutic groups and arranged alphabetically. An intake desk is set up to register and triage patients and pre printed 5 x 7 file cards are used as charts. Each patient is evaluated and attempts are made to place the sickest patients at the head of the waiting benches. Noise can be very disruptive to the examination process and the majority of the waiting crowd is held at bay outdoors. Attempts are made to erect tarps for protection against the elements. We usually draw the expertise from surgeons, internists, specialists in infectious disease and pediatricians. The pediatric population represents the largest number of patients and it is extremely helpful to have a pediatric specialist on NOVA team. About 60% of the patients are well and come seeking minor medications and reassurances, but a good 40% have bone-fide medical issues and of these roughly 10% have critical issues requiring immediate care, in some instances literally life-saving. Intestinal parasitoses are endemic from contaminated water and frequently the same sources are used for washing and personal consumption. The patients are usually very orderly and appreciative and always present themselves in their sole set of Sunday best clothes. The experience in Haiti is usually a humbling one because exposure, comparison and reference inevitably result in a recalibration of American suburban values and priorities. The provider often derives more personally from the trip than the Haitian peasant that he or she went to treat.