A night out in Milot

2/26/2010

We have seen many medical conditions that we never would have seen in the States here.  I have seen two cases of spinal tuberculosis, a sad case of a child with metastatic Ewing’s sarcoma  (a treatable condition in the US but terminal for this boy) and a child with severe, massive hydrocephalus ( again terminal here).  A Georgetown cardiologist here told me in his first day here he has seen more cases of critical rheumatic heart disease than he has seen in all his years practicing back home.  It can be explained by the severe lack of health services in this country.  Patients that need to be seen here often need to walk extreme distances over strenuous terrain and endure very long waits; and this is the premier tertiary care center in the country. “The Mayo of Milot”.   

There are other slight differences.  Before I came people advised me to bring “high test DEET” for the mosquitoes.  I had assumed they meant to bring it for walks and outside activities.  No, they meant to use it in the OR.  I was completely bombarded the other day.  It was frustrating because there were large “no fly zone” placards on the OR doors but people kept leaving them wide open.  On one occasion I saw ten flies come in.  Nonetheless, after an aggressive spraying in the ORs, it seems much better.

Kristen in our PACU

Sam, Med Student extraordinaire in charge of the PACU

This evening a medical student, “Sam” and I walked around downtown Milot.  We were a little apprehensive going out at first but Edeline, an ex-pat Haitian nurse told me  “Relax,  all you need to do is smile and say ‘Bonswa’ and people will smile and reply back.  People here are very friendly, they don’t cause problems”. 

A friend at the hospital entrance

We headed out into the darkness as there are no streetlights here.  The curbs were illuminated by the fires of the “banan” stands.  They are fried plantains with a sour/spicy sauce on top and better than any bar food I have ever had.  We carried our banans, munching heartily into the darkness and sure enough everyone we greeted with a “bonswa” replied with a huge smile.  A group of young men offered me Haitian citizenship in exchange for my US citizenship.  I told him, unfortunately,  that I didn’t have the authority to do that... People were great and quite amused that these two “blans” cared enough to venture out and get to know them on a Friday night.  

Anesthesiologists from Duke/Raleigh showing us the real way to do ultrasound guided nerve blocks

The stereotype in the US seems to be that neighborhoods of the low income and underprivileged tend to be magnets for crime, drugs and lascivious activity. Thus, our fellow volunteers thought we were crazy to walk through this area at night.  What we found was the contrary; a wonderful night-scape of a relaxed, caring people seemingly a world apart from the tragedy that tore them apart a month earlier.  I love the people here. Their smiles and laid-back nature are infectious.

The walk across the street from the OR to the tents

The UN's frequent presence around town

A local banan stand at night

Carefree on a Friday night

Milot town