Children’s Medical Mission of Haiti
ARCHIVES OF EARTHQUAKE STATUS UPDATE
St. Vincent’s Centre for Handicapped Children
Port-au-Prince, Haiti
In spite of everything that happened in the past year – the earthquake, collapsed buildings, a destroyed city, hurricanes, the outbreak of cholera, and most recently, rioting in the streets over the presidential elections – St. Vincent’s is open and serving the children and people of Haiti.
Classes resumed this fall in the courtyard of the boy’s foyer (about a block away from the main campus). Large tents have been erected, temporary structures house offices, and a former office building adjacent to the courtyard has been refurbished as living quarters for the resident students. Some 200 students enrolled.
A medical clinic staffed by Haitian doctors and health care professionals opened in the fall and now serves the community from the temporary quarters. The brace shop, to be housed in the original building on the main campus (slightly damaged but repairable) will open for business in February. In the meantime a security wall has been built around the main campus.
In early December the school celebrated International Day for Handicapped Persons with a special event on the temporary campus – children sang, performed “stunts” in wheelchairs, and received a special meal. Dr. Paen, the blind head of the Haitian government’s Bureau for Handicapped (Special Needs) Persons, visited the campus and spoke. Bill Squire, CMMH President, attended the event and met with Father Sadoni, head of the school.
Planning for the future of St. Vincent’s continues as program, curriculum, residential student needs, and physical plant are all considered.
St. Vincent’s students set up a stand in the street to encourage
people to wash their hands as a way to reduce the spread of cholera.
Progress Continues at St. Vincent's
Our president, Bill Squire, returned from an early June visit to Port-au-Prince to report that the biggest change for the children is their return to the city. The children have moved from their tent city at Montrouis (the old seminary located about 30 miles north of Port-au-Prince) and are now living in refurbished dorms at the Foyer, a short distance from where the old school once stood. The girls live on the first floor, the boys on the second.
A large tarp covers part of the courtyard where six classes meet, each facing a different direction. Classes will continue through July, a month later than usual, to help prepare students for their national exams. Not all classes are in session, only those whose students are scheduled for the national exam.
Meanwhile, the building next door is currently being renovated to house classrooms as well as bathrooms with toilets and sinks. Also, in the middle of the courtyard there is a temporary structure housing the medical clinic.
Bill met with the Rt. Rev. Jean Zache Duracin, Bishop of Haiti, and discussed St. Vincent’s at length. He is putting together a master plan for the reconstruction of diocesan institutions including St. Vincent’s. Pere Sadoni, Director of St. Vincent’s, was meeting with engineers to begin discussing the rebuilding of St. Vincent’s at its former location.
Plans for a Haiti Connection meeting in Miami in the late fall of 2010 were discussed. Dates and place will soon be announced.
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Classes Resume at St. Vincent’s
(Report from April 2010 trip by Bill Squire, CMMH President)
St. Vincent’s Centre for Handicapped Children currently operates in two locations – on the grounds of the former seminary at Montrouis and on the grounds of the boy’s foyer in Port-au-Prince.
Resident students are living in new, larger tents at Montrouis, about 30 miles north of Port-au-Prince, which have a common area and two separate sleeping areas. The girls proudly displayed their new toiletries and modeled their dresses (received in various shipments from our supporters) – see pictures. Classes have started there.
In Port-au-Prince a school has started for day students in temporary quarters at the boy’s foyer (former boy’s dormitory area). Father Sadoni, Director of St. Vincent’s, was interviewing doctors and physical therapists in order to open a clinic in a temporary structure at the same site. He also received approval from Bishop Duracin to renovate a diocesan-owned building next to the foyer to be used initially for seven classrooms. The Friends of St. Vincent’s provided a grant of $20,000 to cover the construction costs of the project, which is currently underway. Father Sadoni was very busy meeting with parents wanting to know when the school and clinic would open. He was also meeting with numerous relief agencies. While there, Canon Squire met with a contingent from the Presbyterian Church and representatives from “A Leg to Stand On” and Food for the Poor, who delivered wheelchairs, walkers, and crutches.
Also, Pere Sadoni received a much-needed sturdy pick-up truck, one of seven purchased by the diocese with funds from Episcopal Relief and Development. Construction of temporary classrooms was well underway at the site of the destroyed College St. Pierre, the diocese’s high school. The government of Haiti took on the project, removing the rubble and building the structures which will be used by the high school and other groups as well. Michele Obama, on her visit to Haiti, stopped at the College St. Pierre to see the progress there.
March 28, 2010
ST. VINCENT’S
Bill Squire, CMMH President, returned in early March from his second visit to Haiti. (Click here for complete report). He visited with Father Sadoni, director of St. Vincent’s, and Bishop Duracin, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti, among others.
Much work has been done. The debris in front of St. Vincent’s has been cleared and there has been an initial assessment of the structural integrity of the buildings. Some structures at the main campus can be repaired, but most will have to be taken down. Some of the boy’s dorm can be saved, but main sections there, too, will have to be taken down.
Currently most of the children remain at Montrouis, the old diocesan seminary, living in tents. They are well-cared-for and have food, water, and shelter. Beginning in April classes are scheduled to resume for the children at Montrouis. Also, some classes will resume on the campus of the boy’s foyer for day students living in Port-au-Prince.
Also during the first week of April, Pere Sadoni says he plans to resume St. Vincent’s regular health clinics on the grounds of the boy’s foyer using two Haitian doctors and several nurses.
Bishop Duracin and a diocesan planning team have been developing a master plan for the restoration and reconstruction of the many institutions of the diocese that were damaged or destroyed by the earthquake. St. Vincent’s, he said, would be rebuilt and would remain in downtown Port-au-Prince. He has appointed Bill Squire to be the coordinator of the groups interested in working with St. Vincent’s.
One medical/dental team from the University of the South recently visited with the children at Montrouis and held a medical clinic at the health center at St. Paul’s, Montrouis. Another team, which has been studying Creole, is expected to travel to Montrouis later in April.
HOPITAL STE. CROIX
Currently there is a field hospital on the grounds of the diocese’s nursing school, east of Leogane. It consists of two large tents complete with operating rooms, delivery rooms, recovery rooms, and storage. It is operated by World Wide Villages / Save the Children and is coordinating its efforts with Hopital Ste. Croix. Dr. Chris Buresh, an emergency room doctor from Iowa, is providing administrative support during this period including the scheduling of rotations of medical teams from the U.S.
The Haitian/American Board of Hopital Ste. Croix, led by the Rev. John Talbird, has been tasked with rebuilding the hospital. Ultimately they plan to have a full-equipped, all-Haitian staffed hospital to serve the Leogane region.
Hopital Ste. Croix and the diocesan nursing school have received significant support from the Presbyterian Disaster Fund. Additional funds are hoped for from a variety of sources as plans proceed toward rebuilding the entire complex.
An urgent need at the hospital today is for an advanced digital x-ray machine. It would allow surgeons to make better decisions as to whether a broken limb can be set or requires surgery.
February 20, 2010
CMMH President Bill Squire was scheduled to return to Haiti today on one of the first commercial flights flying into Port-au-Prince since the earthquake. Unfortunately the flight was cancelled. He has rescheduled his flight for Wednesday, February 24. He will taking in a number of supplies and resources for the children of St. Vincent’s.
CMMH will be working closely with Bishop Duracin and the diocesan relief and recovery team as plans are developed for the restoration of St. Vincent’s.
Of particular concern to us, beyond the care and wellbeing of the children currently in St. Vincent’s care, are the many disabled children whose caregivers have been injured or killed by the earthquake, and the many others now needing housing, rehabilitation, and support.
February 1, 2010
Supplies Reach the Children
Through a series of fortunate turns of events we were able to get a shipment of needed supplies directly to the St. Vincent’s children at Montrouis. Late last Friday Dr. Fred Sorells of Arlington, TX, who has been to St. Vincent’s before and knows Pere Sadoni, contacted our president Bill Squire saying he was returning to Haiti with a medical team on a charter flight. If Bill could meet the plane at the hanger on Saturday morning in Ft. Lauderdale, the six boxes of clothing, flashlights with batteries, towels, toiletries, games and other items purchased for the children could be taken in.
After a late night drive to Ft. Lauderdale the boxes were on the plane. A call to Pere Sadoni’s cell phone on Saturday morning got through. He was leaving Montrouis for Port-au-Prince to take one of the children to a hospital for an x-ray. He was able to stop by the airport, meet Dr. Sorells, and receive the supplies. By Saturday night the children had their supplies.
CMMH will be sending additional shipments of personal items for the children via air freight. We also wired funds to the St. Vincent’s account in Port-au-Prince after hearing from Pere Sadoni that the banks were once again open.
Pere Sadoni reports that the condition of the children at Montrouis are “good” – they have water, tents, food that he can buy, and a fresh sea breeze. He has a vehicle and can get to Port-au-Prince as necessary. He also said the children were “homesick” for their “home” in Port-au-Prince.
Board Member Dr. Gretchen Berggren Arrives in Port-au-Prince
Another of our board members arrived in Port-au-Prince on Saturday traveling through the Dominican Republic. Dr. Berggren will be working with Save the Children in Jacmel. Her initial report gives some sense of the conditions in Haiti.
Bill Squire to Return to Haiti to Meet with Bishop, Director of St. Vincent’s
Later this month Bill Squire will return to Haiti to discuss short term conditions and longer range plans for St. Vincent’s. We will be sharing those plans with our friends and supporters. In the meantime thank you for your outpouring of love and support for the people of Haiti.
IRS Permits 2009 Deduction for Contribution Made to Haiti in 2010
President Obama signed into law an Act on January 23, 2010 that permits taxpayers to deduct certain contributions made to Haiti in 2010 on their 2009 tax return. The rules are:
- The contributions have to be to U.S. charities providing earthquake relief to Haiti.
- The contributions cannot be designated for specific individuals or families.
- The contributions have to be made between January 11, 2010 and February 28, 2010.
- Only cash contributions qualify.
- Taxpayers can claim these deductions in either 2009 or 2010, but not in both years.
- Taxpayers must itemize in order to benefit from this charitable deduction.
January 27, 2010
Pere Sadoni, Director of St. Vincent’s Centre for Handicapped children, talked by phone this week with Father Squire, CMMH President. Most of the children from St. Vincent’s were moved to the former Episcopal Seminary at Montrois, a village about 40 miles north of Port-au-Prince that was not seriously damaged by the earthquake. The seminary, more recently used as a conference center, has water, a generator, and some facilities for housing.
Another smaller group of children was moved to a location near Les Cayes with Dirk Martin, a former music teacher at St. Vincent’s.
The boys were able to salvage a few articles of clothing from their dorm. The girls, however, have nothing but the clothing on their backs. Pere Sadoni has made a list of items needed for the children. We will soon post that list and ways to send items to the children.
Pere Sadoni also reported that the banks had reopened and we are able to wire money to Haiti.
Bill Squire has delayed his return to Port-au-Prince until early February. We hope to assess the damage at St. Vincent’s at that time and begin discussing short-term and long-term rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts with Sadoni and Bishop Duracin. The board of CMMH is meeting again this week to review circumstances on the ground and plan for the future.
Many individuals and groups have responded by sending money or offering resources. Thank you for your support. Please stay in touch as we assess the situation and begin defining the needs of the Centre, Hopital Ste. Croix and other diocesan institutions.
January 21, 2010
Bill Squire returned home to Florida safely this week. A detailed report of his visit is attached. Bill plans to return in the next week or so bringing more supplies and resources to the children of St. Vincent’s.
(January 18, 2010)
We received an e-mail this afternoon from Pere Sadoni. He reports that six children and employees died in the quake. Those remaining are living on the soccer field at College St. Pierre, near the Presidential Palace. Bill Squire did arrive and delivered supplies to help for the immediate future. Pere Sadoni was meeting with Bishop Duracin to see if he could move the children to Montrouis, the former seminary of the Diocese. There they could find shelter, food, and some protection. He said all the basic living supplies --- clothes, soap, tooth brushes, drugs, etc. were stolen from St. Vincent’s. He hopes to repair the wall to protect what is left.
(January 18, 2010)
A report received yesterday from the Rev. Colbert Estil, a Haitian priest confirms that St. Vincent’s is “broken down,” that some children died, and some are in need of medical care. Pere Sadoni, the director, his family, and his fiancé Daphnide are ok. He said that he talked with someone in Port-au-Prince who said some Americans were helping to find some children still alive and were trying to find a hospital at Cange or Santo Domingo to receive them.
We also received a note from the Rev. Canon Bill Squire, who traveled to Port-au-Prince on Saturday. He is safe and is returning to the Dominican Republic today. He sent the message from the laptop of the Rev. Oge Beavoir, dean of the seminary. The computer was hooked up to a car battery.
We also heard that the guest house at Hopital Ste. Croix is still standing and is being used as a medical clinic.
(January 15, 2010)
St. Vincent’s Still Stands; Hopital Ste. Croix Destroyed
Reports coming out of Haiti since the earthquake on Tuesday, January 12, 2010 have been sporadic and often second hand. But what we believe to be true as of now...
St. Vincent’s Centre for Handicapped Children
The building remains standing, albeit damaged. Pere Sadoni, Director of the Center, and many of the children are said to have escaped without serious injury. Some died, and some were injured. This is remarkable since St. Vincent’s is located a few blocks from the Presidential Palace, which collapsed, and just down the street from Holy Trinity Cathedral, Holy Trinity School, and College St. Pierre (an Episcopal high school), all of which collapsed. We do not know how many of the Centre’s teachers and staff were affected.
About 130 students from St. Vincent’s are staying in a camp set up on the soccer field at College St. Pierre. The Sisters of St. Margaret as well as Bishop Duracin were also at the camp. Seminarians prepared a meal for the children and gave them water.
Currently, The Rev. Canon Bill Squire, President of the Children’s Medical Mission of Haiti, is on his way to Port-au-Prince via the Dominican Republic to bring some needed resources to St. Vincent’s and assess the situation.
Hopital Ste. Croix, Leogane
Parts of the hospital in Leogane collapsed. Some deaths are reported. The city itself is largely destroyed. The bandstand and the school in Leogane have collapsed. The Rev. John Talbird, chairman of the board for Ste. Croix, arrived at the time of the earthquake. He was in the American Embassy yesterday helping some Americans who were there on mission trips find transportation back to the states.
The new Nursing School just east of Leogane is still standing as is the “Gates” fillarisis house. Contributions Needed
Contributions Needed
The most immediate need is caring for the handicapped children at St. Vincent’s. We will need to find water, food, and medicines and other essentials for day to day living. In the days and weeks ahead the resources of St. Vincent’s will be sorely needed, as it also serves as a regional health clinic and brace shop (prosthesis, artificial limbs, braces, wheelchairs).
The hospital in Leogane will need to be rebuilt.
Please send checks to CMMH, 925 Hertzler Road, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 or use the on-line donation link on this site. Please check back for updated information.
“An expression of Christian love for the people of Haiti, especially the children, through the hospitals, schools, and health centers in the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti.”
The Children’s Medical Mission of Haiti is a 501c 3 organization committed to providing support for the delivery of medical and educational services to the people of Haiti through St. Vincent’s Centre for Handicapped Children, Port-au-Prince, and Hopital Ste. Croix, Leogone.
It also serves as an umbrella organization for related missions in Haiti and facilitates and organizes the Haiti Connection Conferences.
Its goal is to strengthen each of the institutions through regular contributions to annual operating budgets as well as to endowment funds for long-term stability.
For more information on helping or donating to CMMH please CLICK HERE.
CMMH collaborates with the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti, which owns and operates St. Vincent’s and Hopital Ste. Croix. It also works closely with The Friends of St. Vincent’s, located in Hartford, CT.
Two organizations that began under the umbrella of CMMH, which are all now separate 501c 3 organizations, are the Children’s Nutrition Program located in Leogone, and the Maison de Naissance, a birthing center in Torback.