Reflections on the country

4/27/2010 7:40 pm EST (8:40 pm EDT)
I realized the problem with people in Haiti.  They are so awfully busy trying to put figurative fires out everywhere, they aren't oriented to date or time.  For example, Kez had an appointment last Tuesday morning to see a couple babies for evaluation for medical visas, and one showed up in mid-afternoon (the other never came as far as I know).  A girl who was sick with malaria and dehydration seen at Cite Soleil yesterday was to come to Joey's hospital, and bring her malaria meds with her, and she was sitting there on IV fluid with her malaria meds back at home at Cite Soleil, because they didn't know they were supposed to bring them; the meds were eventually brought by a family member almost 24 hours later.  Dr. Joey thought it was Monday and not Tuesday today, so he didn't pick me up.  When I called Kez this morning to see if she could get a hold of him or if she knew where he was, she had to ask me what day it was.  It's a wonder that people make it to church on Sundays here, with how disoriented to time everyone is. 
I did tell Dr. Joey I was a little unhappy about being left to find my way to the hospital on my own, and left in charge of it essentially on my own (though honestly, I think that his head nurse was actually the one in charge, since she knew the flow and made sure that whatever doctor showed up saw the patients she had sitting in her waiting room).  I also let him know someone's got to take apart his pharmacy and pitch the old meds, since he's got Advair that expired last year and birth control pills that expired 2 years ago.  He also has duonebs (ipatropium and albuterol nebulizer medicine) and no nebulizer that we could find to deliver the meds to the girl with a bad asthma flare-up due to a cold.  His nurse eventually found a steroid inhaler that was not expired as far as I could tell, so we gave her that and told her she needed to come back if she was getting worse. 
What really was frustrating today wasn't being stuck on my own; it was being stuck in a place where the resources are so poor, when if I could only get a truck or even a little car, I could fetch all (well, much of) the medicine I need from the Pastor's house and my hotel room (except malaria meds, but I could have at least started the girl with malaria on doxycyline as a mediocre treatment until her chloroquine arrived from Cite Soleil). 
That's the true challenge in Haiti.  The resources are limited and poor, what resources are available are difficult to access, and the people of this country are under such stress they have difficulty keeping things straight in their head, resulting in tasks falling by the wayside temporarily or permanently as they run helter-skelter to try to make whatever they have correctly.  In a crazy world like this, no wonder everyone gets a little confused, and no wonder it is so hard to fix this country's problems.
-- Gina

4/28/2010 5:39 pm EST (6:39 pm EDT)
Poor Dr. Joey.  He was stuck in beaurocracy again trying to negotiate to keep his ambulance and unload the ship.  I saw him briefly this morning when he dropped us off at Cite Soleil (Dr. Jackie and me, and the staff), and then saw him again after finishing clinic at Cite Soleil and Wharf and starting at his hospital.  He arrived just in time to see a pretty sick guy with right upper quadrant abdominal pain, which I suspect is hepatitis of some sort.  He's now on IV fluids and pain meds (a little NSAID and a little acetaminophen). 
There was a guy selling art in Joey's yard at the hospital today, because of all the Scientologists (and me) being here.  I bought a small metal tap-tap (public transportation) art piece and a painting.  I may sell one or both in auction or raffle for more meds for the next Haiti trip, or may use them to decorate my future office.  I don't know yet.  The little tap-tap is very cute.
I'm about halfway done here.  I get to see Tod a week from Saturday. Yay!  I am enjoying the work, but I am tired and really miss Tod, and it gets kind of lonely down here sometimes.  Overall, though, I am glad I am here and able to help.  If I weren't here, many of Joey's patients would be stuck with nobody to see them with all the beaurocracy he's trying to fight through.
-- Gina