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NSVI
(No-Scalpel Vasectomy International) in Haiti
August
31, 2010 - Day 2 - Cange
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After a good
night's sleep, starting the day with a group photo as we await the arrival
of our patients and doctor trainees.
Dr. Doug Stein, Dr. Ramon Suarez, technical assistant
Lisette, driver Laurore, Dr. Fritz Lolagne |
| Four patients were
scheduled and two arrived. Here those two patients discuss vasectomy
with Drs. Joanel Joasil (Medical Director of Zanmi Lasante) and Dr.
Lolagne. The
28 year old man on the left had had 8 children with 8 different
partners in the Dominican Republic. He had brought the children back
to Haiti and they were living with his mother. Now he had a 23 year
old girlfriend and thought that he might wish to have children with
her, so he declined having a vasectomy. The man in the striped shirt
had had 3 children with his present partner and was ready to proceed
with vasectomy. |
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Dr. Suarez demonstrates (and explains in English) the
3-finger NSV technique of securing the vas, while 3 gloved trainees await
their turns and Dr. Lolagne informs the patient in Creole about our
progress and what he might feel. |
Dr. Bernard has good hands and proves to be a quick
learner. Our patient, nickname Tilepr�, was exemplary in his patience and cooperation. |
Then our group photo gathered around the Zanmi Lasante
logo placard.
Drs. Suarez, Jean-Hamiltong and Revolus; Lisette; Drs. Bernard, Lolagne
and Stein. |
| Then it was on to Cap-Haitien for the night,
in preparation for a day of NSV training in Ouanamithe. We were told that Route
3, the main route through the central plateau via Hinche and Pignon,
might be even more rutted and muddy than it was during my trip in
April and that it might even be impassable at one or two river
crossings, now that it was the rainy season. We were advised to
return south from Cange to Mirebalais, then take route 109 to
Liancourt where it would meet Route 1/100, the main route between
Port-au-Prince and Cap-Haitien. Route 109 courses through the valley
of a large river between the coastal range and the central
highlands. |
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| The
road south of Cange was dusty, sometimes narrow or torn up, |
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busy with overcrowded vehicles. |
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| We stopped
for a cold drink |
in the
agrarian central valley (rice and corn) |
spotted
with smaller towns, equally poor. |
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| We
entered the mountains northeast of Gonaives at dusk, |
escorted
over dark and bumpy road by our skillful drivers, Wolf and Laurore. |
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Keep in mind that all of this was made possible
through the generous support of MSH, dedicated to the provision of
quality family planning services throughout Haiti. |
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Enjoying
a late-evening meal on arrival in Cap-Haitien are
Dr. Lolagne and Stein, Lisette, and Drs. Suarez and Revolus, |
then rest
at the Hotel Mont-Joli where Dr. Suarez reviews e-mails from the
USA. |
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| On to
September
1, Day 3 - Ouanaminthe |
Third trip to Haiti: May/June 2011
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