From Dr. Haw--8/9/10
It has been just a week since we returned from a twelve day mission trip to Haiti and Ebenezer Glenn Orphanage. It already is starting to feel like a dream, something so foreign to the comfortable rural Iowa we call home. Although this was my third visit to EGO and Dessalines, and my seventh trip to Haiti it had been over 25 years since I had "visited". I was first introduced to Haiti as part of family short term mission projects, assisting my father, also a dentist, working in many missions throughout Haiti. It was now my turn to introduce the next generation to missions and to Haiti. I was joined by my 21 yr. old daughter, Kate and my 18 yr old son Tim, both had crash courses in field dentistry, sterilization and infection control, and many, many stories from my wife and I and their Grandparents on the Haitian experience.
I was shocked by both how much has changed and how much has stayed the same in Haiti. A country that I once knew like the back of my hand has changed; I could barely make out landmarks and locations. The increase in building and the numbers of people was most evident, yet in the background the tell tale signs of last winter's devastation. A somewhat familiar street corner is now camouflaged with layers of debris, tents and makeshift shelters. Even on the road to Dessalines the familiar barren hillsides now dotted with blue and white tents . And then the people.. mile after mile, in the dark, people on the roadway, people in doorways and windows.. and motorcycles now clog the roads and towns, weaving and bobbing in and out of traffic. Yet the feel, the sounds and faces of the people are oh.. so familiar. It takes no time to remember why we are here, the people.
Our tip although a long time in the wishing stage was quickly confirmed and put together and despite the haste our travels went oh so smoothly. We had prepared for the worst and were blessed by the best, clearing customs and getting to EGO in near record time. Walking into the mission home of Don and Doris was like coming home to visit long missed family. Although we all are a little older and the compound a lot bigger it was like being home.
EGO has been Blessed with wonderful gift of a top notch dental unit and compressor—wonderful A-Dec package that included all the necessary repair parts and tools to field strip and repair. To those who made this gift possible a big thank you! Our mandate was to screen and assess all the children, prioritize and treat. Then do the same with the staff and the workers. Dental disease is a complex animal, the rate of decay, its' aggressiveness and even that of gum disease is greatly affected by the host and is a mirror of their overall health, nutrition and wellbeing. What we had reflected back to us in the smiles of these children and young people was a picture of health! with decay rates that would put many school agers in the states to shame. Even when we found decay it was far less aggressive than what is often seen in Iowa and elsewhere. In strict clinical terms it points to the excellent care and nutrition that is provided the children and their overall health. I am sure that Doris's strict soda and candy rules play a big part too. After putting the dental clinic and equipment to a full test we met and exceeded all of our goals and expectations, yet our seven days of clinic barely scratched the surface of the overall dental need. The children's needs were met and the emergency needs of the staff were addressed but the need for continued care remains and the need and outreach for those outside the compound is staggering. So if you are a dentist or a hygienist and you are wishing and praying for an outreach…….. EGO has a clinic and a need for you!
In addition there was some good discussion on how the existing dental clinic could be enhanced and expanded and improved. The basic structural bones of a clinic are there with the ability to do basic restorative and oral surgical care but with just a little effort and a little investment a comprehensive care facility could be established. This is something worthy of prayer and consideration.
Jeff Haw D.M.D.
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