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6286: bragging about health care-Bushey (fwd)
From: LBushey <lbushey@globelsud.net>
keywords: Doctors, Hospital St. Damien, children
I am writing to tell about the excellent care we received at the
Hospital Saint Damien (aka Nos Petits Freres et Soeurs) in
Petionville. It is the large white building at the top of Pan
Americaine #117 just at the corner where you turn for Hotels Villa
Creole and El Rancho. (phone 257-0426)
This hospital has given me a whole new outlook on Haitian health care.
As an American living in Haiti, I have had some pretty good
experiences with some pretty good Doctors here but this place was
EXCELLENT! I have been taking care of a 18 month old Haitian girl
(like a foster situation) for a couple months. She weighed only 14
pounds but was stable health wise. Then she took a turn for the worse
and wouldn't eat or drink anything and I was scared with her high
fever. So on American Thanksgiving Day I took her to the clinic at
that hospital. We were treated so well! Overall this place impresses
me because they are so respectful and caring. All of the staff that we
encountered where professional and knowledgeable. The facilities are
clean, good equipment and offered nice healthy meals. When we first
arrived, during the relatively short wait, they offered my baby girl
oral rehydrating fluid to drink. We paid 5 gourdes for the visit only.
Her weight was now down to only 11 pounds. Then we were seen by the
most wonderful Doctor but unfortunately I can't spell her name. She's
the medical Director there. The Dr. diagnosed Rosie with measles among
other infections. Because their beds were full and her condition
contagious they were unable to admit her but kept her for the whole
day on an IV fluid. I cared for her at home but 4 days later after
elections when I saw no improvement, I took her back and this time
they admitted her. Rosie stayed in the hospital for almost 2 1/2
weeks. I spent a lot of time in the hospital there and during all
those days I only have positive things to say about the staff and
facilities. They did an in house x-ray for only $5.00 HD and all the
medicines they gave were free also. There are a million little things
I could brag about this great place but the biggest one is that the
staff truly cares. It was so encouraging to me to see nurses who
actually talked to the patients as well as cared for their needs. As a
small token to thank the staff I wrote a glowing letter, donated some
kids clothes, left cash for others who could pay some of the test
fees, and gave some OTC meds I had. I 'hear' that they don't accept
private pay patients but are there to help those who can't afford
other health care. I also 'heard' that they won't deny anyone with an
emergency since they keep Drs on staff all night. I have only touched
the tip of explaing this place but wanted others to know, that yes,
there is some excellent health care here in Haiti.