It has been a long desire of the Haitians of Fond Doux to have a working clinic in Fond Doux. A group representing the Wesleyenne Church of Fond Doux and the Fond Doux Foundation met on July 15th to sign a contract to arrange for a clinic in Fond Doux to be operated by the Fond Doux Foundation Nurse Myrdred Kaminski Delva.
The group from left to right consisted of Daddy PIERRE, Emile MACEUS, Pastor Christian DEMERO, Virton ST-CYR, Dieve DORELUS, Madame Laudanie FÉRUS, Wesley PAULO, Madame Wesley (Sonise) PAULO and Pastor Wakel JOSEPH. Wakel JOSEPH and Sonise PAULO signed for the FDF.
Clinic Committee
A Committee to oversee the clinic was appointed. Representing the FDF are Emile Maceus and Dany Joseph. Representing the Wesleyenne Church are Madame Laudanie Férus and Teacher Jeanol Vertus. On July 17th a fifth person associated with neither group was appointed by the other four. He is Jean Gaston OVIDE. The signing of the contract and the formation of the committee mark a big milestone in Fond Doux.
Left to Right, they are Jeanol Vertus, Emile Maceus, Laudanie Ferus, Jean Gaston Ovide and Danis Jean Joseph.y
Clinic Building
A clinic building erected by Samaritan’s Purse has set empty for about seven years. Although erected after the earthquake of 2010 by Samaritan’s Purse, it is now owned by the Wesleyenne Church of Fond Doux. Plans to repair and upgrade the building are underway. The group was enthusiastic about the forthcoming opening of the clinic and the Wesleyenne Church commended the FDF for their work in the community. We have gathered funds to begin renovation. More are always welcome.
The clinic building has six rooms, a pharmacy, a utility room and 4 rooms originally designed for possible consulting of patients. However, the plan is to use one of the consulting rooms as an office and one of the rooms as a laboratory., although perhaps one of the rooms may serve dual purposes.
Clinic Building Repair
Repairs should soon be under way on the clinic building now that the clinic committee in Fond Doux is working. The damage to the roof and ceiling were more significant than we had realized. Water had come in over a considerable period of time and had gotten to the plywood ceiling tile. Four sheet metal roofing panels at the very least need to be replaced. A carpenter has been secured.
Upgrades to Clinic
Other upgrades will be necessary to operate the clinic. We are opening with a “bare bones” approach, but with greater resources we would like to expand to phase II, adding a basic laboratory as quickly as possible. That will make the clinic exponentially more effective. Plans for solar power are being actively planned as well.
Staffing
The United Methodist Women of Epworth United Methodist Church, Durham, NC have already raised sufficient money to cover a year’s salary for the nurse. They had agreed to fund at least six months and then evaluate. Although many tasks will be handled by volunteers, a cleaning lady has been secured that must be paid and someone to maintain records will probably need to be hired as well. The salaries for these positions are very modest as all the jobs are part time, but they provide subsistence for people with little income.