16305: Kathleen: Re: 16299: Louissant: Re: 16284: (Hermantin) Miami-Herald-Haitian widow's mission: Improve care in hospitals (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Kathleen <kathleenmb@adelphia.net>

I would have died if I had not been in the U.S. for other reasons when heart
trouble struck.  To be unselfish for a second, this would have hurt so badly
my Haitian friends who took such good care of me.  But there is a 3-4hour
window, which I should think could be met at one or two hospitals, with a
capital infusion.  Problem is not physicians - I had excellent medical care
and could get medications - but lack of equipment.  Electricity has
reportedly failed in ORs.  I was really surprised that even Canapé Vert did
not have a CAT scan.  I don't blame people who (can) buy 4x4s or
generators - the alternative is to sit passively or agitate unsuccessfully
for services, which is counterproductive, to put it mildly.  Who what stops
the AMHE?  I personally made the decision to take elective surgery to the
States, trust to fate for the rest, but the seizure of funds at BHD removed
the first option for me, so .....kb
----- Original Message -----
From: "Bob Corbett" <corbetre@webster.edu>
To: "Haiti mailing list" <haiti@lists.webster.edu>
Sent: Wednesday, August 06, 2003 11:31 AM
Subject: 16299: Louissant: Re: 16284: (Hermantin) Miami-Herald-Haitian
widow's mission: Improve care in hospitals (fwd)


>
> From: P Louissaint <totalcapital@email.com>
>
> I am very sorry for what happen to the dentist Michel Carvonis. This is
very sad. However, this is happening daily to many in Haiti.
>
> Many Haitians live on the same land but do NOT form a "society". Each
person is thinking for him-her self. For those of you who are not aware of
the mentality of a majority of Haitians (not all), I will summarize with the
following 2 examples:
>
> 1.- Road problem
> their solution: buy very expensive 4 x 4
> 2.- Electricity Problem
> their solution: buy power generators and power inverters
>
> Although I feel sorry about it, I am not surprised to learn what happened
to Mr Carvonis. Many wealthy Haitians in Haiti rely on AIR AMBULANCES to
take them to Miami (cost: US $15,000). If you have diarrhea, that's fine.
But, guess what: if, like Mr Carvonis or many other poor Haitians (that we
do not hear from), you have a real emergency, YOU ARE DEAD. You will die
because you will only have a window of 3 to 4 hours to receive the treatment
that MAY save you.
>
> Whether a Lavalas going to Cuba for healthcare, a middle class Haitian
going to the Dominican Republic or a Bourgeois going to Miami, once again,
if you have a real medical emergency in Haiti, YOU ARE DEAD !
>
> The solution is not to start from scratch with a center for those who are
"well connected" . We should try to find the solution as a society. There
are top Haitian physicians in Haiti or abroad. I know for a fact that the
Association of Haitian Physicians Abroad (AMHE) has made many attempts to
help. The Haitian Medical Association (AMH) is also a real asset that can
help make a structured and sustained change.
>
> Let's find the solution as a society ! I am sorry for Mr Carvonis and many
other unknown Haitians dying in the same circumstances (without making the
Miami Herald). The underlying problem is not a new one. A "patch solution"
is temporary and will be a waste of resource.
>
> Cuban intern physicians, telemedicine (via video or telephone) from Miami
are "patch solutions". The problem will be properly tackled when hospitals
will be well equiped and staffed by well trained physicians serving the rich
and the poor. Let's start by having a competent (not necessary militant)
Minister of Health...
>
> Comments are encouraged on this important topic
>
> Paul Louissaint
> --
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