Eye on the Future

The timing couldn't have been more symbolic. I was in school this weekend, and reviewing the inventory control project at Sacre Coeur with which I'm involved. We have been making good progress, the building is up, and we were coordinating logistics to get the hardware to Milot and begin installation and roll out. Potential infrastructure roadblock were identified and corrected. Things seemed to be on track. I was planning to head down in December. Twenty minuted before the presentation, I received two concerning emails.

The cholera epidemic reached HSC, and there were now widespread demonstrations in Cap, closing the airport.

The email from CRUDEM,updated the situation and asked for volunteers. The census was again swelling, this time with cholera patients. Fortunately, we had anticipated this scenario, and designated isolation areas in the tents, assured appropriate decontamination (you need dilute bleach, not just alcohol gel), and secured safe water for oral rehydration solution. We once again will respond to meet the needs.

The political unrest is not surprising. There has been no functioning government for almost a year, and frustrations are high. But I also learned that cholera had not been a problem in Haiti before, and the local citizens are blaming outsiders, including the UN, for bringing the disease to their country. They site early European explorers importing smallpox and syphilis to a previously unexposed populations in America.

I contacted several of my colleagues, as well as CRUDEM leadership. The response was what I expected - we have handled these challenges before and we will do it again. The demonstrations will die down, and we will get back to our mission of improving care and enhancing Haitian self reliance.

It's a good lesson for all of us. Crises are part of the everyday ebb and flow of life. By keeping our eye firmly of the long term goal, we will deal with the challenges of the now, keeping them in context.

For those of you who would like to volunteer, please contact Deb Motyl dmotyl@radiusmanagement.com. I would also be happy to speak to anyone about the logistics.