March 8, 2012 was the 16^th anniversary of the Aristide Foundation for Democracy.  To mark the anniversary and International Women’s Day, the Foundation organized a health fair.   Dr. Jessy Pierre, the medical director for the day, coordinated  32 doctors and 15 nurses who consulted over 600 people during the six hour clinic.    The medical staff included two optometrists and a dentist.  Students from 29 area schools came to the Foundation for the day for one-on-one consultations with physicians and also to hear health education talks.   This health fair was organized in conjunction with  29 schools in the La Plaine area– whose students don’t often get the opportunity to consult with physicians.

While students waited for their consultations, the doctors present offered medical educations talks.  Dr. Marie Antoinette Gauthier (surgeon and former member of Haiti’s national football team) stressed with students the importance of physical activity and encouraged them to find creative ways to stay active – all the while conscious that many schools don’t have any outdoor space, the few public parks that exist in Port-au-Prince are still occupied and walking on the streets dangerous with cars and taxi-motorcycles (taxi-moto).  As students waited, doctors and/or nurses spoke to small groups about general hygiene, and with the rains approaching, the risks of cholera and cholera prevention

March also saw the inauguration of ‘Klinik Alo Dokté’  (Hello, Doctor Clinic)

Alo Dokte (Hello Doctor)  is a public health education program on the Foundation’s radio station,  Radyo Timoun.  The program, which was launched in January, is hosted by 5 doctors  and one dentist, who take calls from the public on health topics.  All of these doctors are part of the corps of 745 Haitian physicians who were trained in Cuba since 1996.

The radio programs runs for one hour, 5 days a week. the program begins with a  discussion of a health related topic (AIDS prevention, How to recognize Cholera, etc.)  Phone lines are then open to callers.   Adults and children then call in with very specific and sometimes very serious questions about their own health or the health of a family member.   The doctors offer advice and answers to questions.   The doctors also give out their personal cell phone numbers and get calls well into the night, even after they’ve left the radio station.

The tremendous response to the show has led to a decision to to create a clinic in the Foundation linked to the show where instead of calling, members of the community can come in person for a consultation with any one of the participating doctors.

On February 2, 2011 The Aristide Foundation inaugurated a Youth League under the banner: Youth Action, Integration and Cooperation. The purpose of the League is to create a space for debate, intellectual and cultural exchange, and practical training for young people who want to assist in the rebuilding of their country. More than 1,500 people attended the official launch, with 132 representatives coming from each of Haiti’s ten departments. Since February the league has grown by leaps and bounds, holding weekly training seminars and events to mark days of national importance.

On February 23, 2011, 1632 young people were invited to participate in an all day work session to reflect on different areas of future activities including, Psychology, Health, Economics, Communication, Education, Sports, culture, and Justice and Human Rights. After six hours of brainstorming, discussion n and debate each working group presented their conclusions and suggestions for moving forward.

Since February 23, the league has more than doubled in size, mainly through word of mouth. On March 22, another 1700 young people joined, and each week since hundreds of new young people have joined, gathering weekly at the Foundation to listen to speakers on a range of topics. The current membership is over 6,000. Many of these young people are participating in classes organized at the foundation in the following areas: music lessons, driving school, cholera prevention seminars, first aid, and computer courses.

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In addition to weekly meetings, the league sponsors events to mark important national dates. For International Women’s Day the league sponsored a debate on the active participation of women in the economic and political life of the country. On May 1, (agriculture day in Haiti) agronomists, Dejean and Mésidor presented a conference on environmental degradation and reforestation. Participants received seedlings for planting at the end of the conference. On May 18, rather than having an outside speaker, two Youth League members from the Political Science working group presented the history of the Haitian flag.

On May 28, 2011, a delegation of five teachers traveled to Jacmel to offer a training session for 115 new young people who had enrolled in the league in the South East.

Since June 11, leaders of the Youth League, which includes some of the Cuban-trained doctors who are UniFA graduates, and other young professionals have been meeting every two weeks to harmonize the administrative and technical structures of the league while laying the foundations for coordinating efforts in all ten provinces of Haiti.

On July 15, to mark the birthday of Jean-Bertrand Aristide, and in response to the resurgence of cholera in the country, the Youth League, led by 60 doctors, many of them UniFA graduates, held a huge cholera prevention seminar, with a mass demonstration hand-washing, followed by a free medical clinic for area residents.

Most of those who have joined the Youth League are between 16 and 25 years old. According to Merry Roche, the Foundation’s coordinator of youth activities, young people are flocking to the Foundation for a variety of reasons. The welcoming atmosphere at the Foundation attracts them, as does the possibility of finding a spot in a practical training session. Many also hope that one day they may be able to study at UniFA (the University of the Aristide Foundation, whose Medical School is scheduled to reopen in September). Most of all they are looking for a way to contribute, a vehicle for channeling their energies into building a better country.   Foundation staff has been impressed at the dedication of the young people who have formed the League. Most have either completed their Rheto or Philo exams (Exams given during the final two years of high school – reaching this academic level in Haiti is already a major accomplishment.) These are young people with high aspirations. They are creative and cooperative and feel great pride in belonging to the youth league. The Foundation has been overwhelmed by both the turnout and the dedication of these young people and is struggling to create programs to meet their aspirations.

It is already clear that UniFA, once it reopens will be able to accommodate only a handful of these young people. The Foundation is exploring the possibility of expanding vocational training programs beyond the computer school, which already operates at the Foundation. We are looking at possibilities in plumbing, carpentry, electricity, silk-screening, administration, accounting, and perhaps most importantly entrepreneurial mentoring to assist groups of young people in the creation of micro enterprises in the above fields.

If youth is the hope of all countries, the youth league of the Aristide Foundation for Democracy is a profound demonstration of Haiti’s potential. More than half of Haiti’s population is below the age of 25. Each year tens of thousands graduate from high school. Baccalaureate exams are taking place right now across Haiti with more than 130,000 students participating. (If they pass the two-year cycle of exams they are qualified to go to University) Yet, there are only places for a handful of these students at Haiti’s Universities and nearly all of Haiti’s Universities have been hit very hard by the quake. There is massive pent up demand for access to post high school education or training – whether University level or vocational. The energy of Haiti’s young people must become the engine that drives Haiti’s recovery. The question facing both the Foundation, UniFA and really the country as a whole is how do we answer their call?

On Wednesday February 3, more than seven hundred young people gathered at the Aristide Foundation for Democracy to launch the Aristide-Lavalas Youth league  (Ligue de la Jeunesse Aristido-Lavalasse).  The goal of the Youth League is to bring young people together to vitalize Haiti’s democracy and to initiate service projects to help their communities in the fields of education and health.

Each department of Haiti was represented by a delegation of 10-12 young people all of whom made the long trip to Port-au-Prince because they want to contribute to the building of a participatory democracy in Haiti.   Early in the morning of Feb 2, these departmental youth delegations met for a four-hour discussion/ workshop in the conference room of the AFD to share perspectives, brainstorm ideas, and create an orientation for the new organization.  Pyschologist Wladimir Constant facilitated this dialogue titled, “The Leadership of the Young.”

Toussaint Hilaire, director of the AFD addresses the youth delegates

For the second stage of the event the delegations came downstairs, and onto the stage of the auditorium, where they were welcomed with thunderous applause by over 700 other young people from the department of the West (Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas), who gathered in the auditorium to welcome the national delegates and to officially launch this Youth League.

Much of the organizing to launch the Youth League was done by young UNIFA graduates together with the leadership of the Foundation.   These young doctors who began their medical training at UniFA before the 2004 coup d’etat, and then finished their training in Cuba, are now back in Haiti and have been central to all the AFD’s efforts to assist in the wake of the earthquake.   This initiative also builds on the Foundation’s efforts over the past year to empower young people to be at the forefront of service in wake of the quake (though mobile clinics staffed by young doctors, mobile schools staffed by young high school and college graduates, and our youth-led mental health project Soulaje Lespri Moun, and the the reopening of UNIFA ).

Youth Delegates on the stage at the AFD, Feb. 2, 2011

The launching of this youth league represents the determination of all the young people who have came together on February 3, to offer their energy, creativity, and vitality towards a new Haiti.

Rose Yvica Roche Volcy and Yves Merry Stuart Roche were the MC’s for the ceremony in the auditorium.   Hancy Pierre Louis, professor of economics and former Vice Governor of the Central Bank, gave a presentation on Haiti’s economy.

Hancy Pierre Louis addressing the Youth League

Wladimir Constant, spoke again on the centrality of youth leadership, and Toussaint Hilaire, the Director of the Arsitide Foundation spoke about the importance of youth gaining confidence in themselves through service to the country and offered perspectives on the kinds of civic and service projects the Youth League might undertake, such as literacy programs for adults, and educational projects for children who are not in school.

Joseph Marc Anderson, a youth representative then spoke on behalf of the league and presented its charter to those present.

A cultural presentation by Kolonb Dor, the youth troupe of the Aristide Foundation followed.

We look forward to seeing this new organization evolve and flourish.  Only Haitians can rebuild Haiti.

On January 7, 2011 the Aristide Foundation organized a clinic for 400 people who were injured or lost limbs as a result of the earthquake.  Over 5,000 people are estimated to have lost a limb as a result of injuries sustained during the earthquake.  The group gathered in the auditorium of the Aristide Foundation on the morning of the 7th.  Each person then received a consultation with a doctor.  Four orthopedists, two surgeons, and 15 general medical doctors (most of whom are former UniFA students, trained in Cuba) offered their services for the day.

After the consultation, crutches, wheel chairs, walker and canes for the elderly, were distributed free of charge to those in need of them.  Most of the equipment we distributed came from a gift facilitated by Haiti Emergency Relief Fund, we thank them for enabling us to some help to those in need.

This event was the first in a series of events planned this week to mark the anniversary of the quake through service to the survivors.

A creole language version of the Foundation’s press release is below.

Klinik Mobil Pou Andikape.

Moun ki rive sove anba dekonb

Tranbleman Tè 12 Janvye 2010.

Oditoryòm Fondasyon Aristide

Vandredi 7 Janvye 2011.

Sa fè yon (1) lane depi Lanati frape pye l byen fò nan Depatman Lwès ak Sidès peyi Dayiti. Kòm nou pat pare pou sa ebyen, 300.000 sitwayen ayisyen pèdi lavi yo nan pasaj Tranbleman Tè a. Anpil nan nou menm ki rive chape anba dekonb pèdi yon pati nan kò nou tankou :

Bra koupe

Pye koupe

Tèt manke moso

Zye kreve

Gwo blesi grav nan kò

Elatriye,…..

AFD Director Toussaint Hilaire, Dr. Jessie Pierre-Louis, and Dr. Mxon Guerrier welcome the crowd

Avan 12 Janvye 2010, estatistik te déjà relve genyen 800.000 Andikape nan tout peyi a. Aprè 12 Janvye 2010 nonb lan vin ogmante. Laprès deklare ke yo rive konte ant 4 a 5 Mil Andikape : Moun pye koupe, Bra koupe, elatriye,…. Kidonk, peyi a genyen yon nouvèl jenerasyon Andikape.

Ki lavni pou 5 Mil nouvo Andikape yo ?

Malgre yo rive chape anba dekonb men, mak yo pote nan kò yo rete yon gwo andikap pou yo jere pou tout rès vi yo sou latè. Kijan pou sosyete a ankadre yo ? Kijan pou yo konsidere tèt yo kòm moun san konplèks, san gwo tèt chaje ? Li pa fasil. Wi, li pa fasil piske nap viv nan yon sosyete ki poko genyen nivo pou bay tout respè ak moun ki genyen yon andikap kèlkonk.

Si nou fè yon ti bak nan listwa sosyal peyi dayiti na konprann kòman sosyete a te konn diskrimine moun ki andikape. Lè nou pale de andikape nou vle di tout tip andikap: Moun ki pèdi Bra, oswa moun ki pèdi pye, oswa moun ki genyen pwoblèm mantal,….Lè moun nan kategori andikape nou site la yo te konn ap sikile nan lari ebyen yo te konn anmède yo anpil, yo te konn rele chalbari dèyè yo nan tout lari. Sosyete a pat ko prè pou konprann ke yon andikape se yon moun ki genyen tout dwa epi ki genyen wol li ka jwe pou kontinye viv kòm yon moun nòmal. Genyen andikape nan lemond ki fè anpil gwo mirak syantifik pou ede limanite fè plis pwogrè. Genyen anpil gwo Atis andikape. Lakay nou annayiti yo egziste tou. Pou sa, Fondasyon Aristide double aktivite sosyal li te konn òganize pou bay plis ankadreman a moun ki pi nesesite yo.

Pou make premye anivèsè Tranbleman Tè 12 Janvye 2010 la epi rann yon Omaj a 5 Mil nouvo andikape yo Konsèy Administrasyon Fondasyon Aristide mete ansanm ak Direksyon medikal la nan òganize Vandredi ki te 7 Janvye 2011 yon Klinik Mobil pou Andikape. Direksyon medikal la te envite 400 andikape : Bra koupe, Pye koupe vin patisipe pou ka resevwa evalyasyon medikal, pou resevwa Beki, Ròkè, chèz roulant, Baton pou Granmoun,… Direksyon medikal la te jwenn konkou 4 Otopedis, 2 Chirijyen ak 15 Medsen jeneralis ki vin pote kole avèk li pou ankadre 400 andikape yo.

Nou pwofite sikonstans sa a pou remèsye piblikman Oganizasyon entènasyonal ERF nan KALIFONI peyi Etazini pou bann materyèl medikal li te voye pou Fondasyon Aristide. Se gras ak sipò sa yo tankou : Beki, Ròkè, Chèz roulant ki ede nou bay chak andikape selon bezwen yo yon materyel ..

Direktè Toussaint Hilaire.

Every Wednesday morning in the auditorium of the Aristide Foundation for Democracy in Tabarre, Haiti, over a 1000 people receive free primary care treatment.  Almost all of the people coming to the Foundation for care are living in temporary settlements in the area.

The clinics have become a weekly gwo konbit medical - with 40 or more doctors, dozens of volunteers and health workers and pharmacists, working together to make sure that everyone who comes sees a doctor and receives the medicine they need.

Services offered include: general medical care, as well as pediatric, eye, dental,  gynecological, orthopedic and psychological  care.   The Haitian Ministry of Health (MSPP) sends health monitors to carry out vaccinations for all those who want them.  Canned milk is distributed to all pregnant women and mothers of young children.

The most commonly observed health problems are malnutrition, diarrhea in children, respiratory ailments, urinary tract infections,  intestinal parasites, and untreated high blood pressure.  The vast majority of those attending the clinics are living in temporary settlements (tent cities) across the metropolitan area.  Many of the health problems they face are a direct result of the conditions in the camps, which have little or no sanitation and limited water.   And it is now raining nearly every night.

While waiting to receive medical care, patients also hear a health education talk – for instance on malaria prevention.  On April 21, they got a concert.   Tatann of the Gwoup Lakol, a Haitian musician from Miami  stopped by to sing for everyone, doctors, patients and staff, while they worked and waited.

Volunteer psychologists are also on-hand at each clinic to work with people exhibiting symptoms of PTSD.  About 100 people each week participate in  group counseling sessions with psychologists offering guidance and support for dealing with post traumatic stress.

AFD doctors have seen and provided primary care treatment to:

• March 10, 2010 – 650 people   

• March 17 – 1169 people

• March 24 – 1284 people

• March 31 – 1192 people

• April 7 – 1178 people

• April 14-1276 people

• April 21 – 948 people

We are grateful to the Haiti Emergency Relief Fund for providing funding for these clinics, and also to several institutions who are contributing the medical supplies needed each week including Partners in Health/Zanmi Lasante and the government of Taiwan.