Fall has two National holidays – October 17 the Death of Dessalines and November 18 the Battle of Vertiéres. Both are indicative of the thirst for independence that has and does characterize the people of Haiti. Many don’t know that the first place Columbus landed in the “New” world was in Haiti, just 5 miles from Milot.  Within generation through the insatiable greed for gold, the colonists exterminated the native population.  To do the work, natives from Africa were snatched from their homes and families and brought to Haiti as slaves. However, the love of freedom and their desire for independence was never forgotten and burned strongly in their hearts. Some of them actually fought in the American Revolutionary war as part of the French forces sent to aid the Americans.  They also heard of the values of the French Revolution – fraternity, liberty, equality and took them to heart and challenged the mightiest military force of the era – Napoleon’s army!

Dessalines, Toussaint L’Ouverture and Henri Christophe were leaders of the Haitian Revolution at the Battle of Vertiéres that dealt a decisive defeat to Napoleon’s army.  They established the second republic n the Americas and the first black republic in the world — quite an achievement!!

Throughout its history, marked by much suffering and oppression, that thirst for freedom and independence has continued to burn. In a way, that fight still goes on though it is different. Today’s struggle is for economic independence.   The world’s increase in food and fuel prices, have affected Haiti badly, just as it has other developing nations.   Food prices have doubled and tripled over recent months.  In a nation where the unemployment rate is over 70% this is a humanitarian disaster of major proportions. Can you imagine havingto send your child to bed hungry because you have nothing to give him? Or being too embarrassed to bring a sick child to the hospital because you can’t afford even the prescription fee?

We see the effects of the price increases both on our patients and the institution.  Fewer patients come, and when they do, they are often sicker.  Our diabetic and cardiovascular patients not only come for financial assistance more often, but try to stretch their prescriptions by halving them so that they last twice as long.  The result of this strategy to economize, is that they often arrive in a critical state and the staff as to snatch them from the jaws of death.  We do what we can, but there is always the wish that we could do more! There is a Haitian proverb The cry of the poor is like the gong of a wooden bell, no one hears it. We can only ask that you listen with the ears of faith and help in any way you can.

Dr. Bernes Chalumeau, Marie –Ange Barrella,
Raymond  Pierre-Louis, Emmanuela Beliard,
Rayond Delnatus, Sr. Joanna and Sr. Martha