Throughout 2021, Dr. Sony and his medical team participated in Quarterly Medical Clinics in Plain Matin. With the support of Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church, the clinics were able to be held 3 times last year, and we are planning on going forward with four clinics every year.

This is a huge step in supporting our partners in caring for their neighbors in rural Haiti! With limited modern technology in these small villages, sanitation and health become real problems. Most of the people who come to these clinics are suffering from problems that we would view as easily treated — infections, viruses, rashes — that become bigger problems because they don’t have access to the medical attention or medicine that they need. In the 300+ people who were seen in the area of Plain Matin, most were being treated for bronchitis, gastric issues, scabies, and high blood pressure.

After the earthquake that hit the southern part of Haiti in August, the people of Plain Matin were in great need of medical help. Even though he was dealing with the collapse of his own house and the wellbeing of his own family, Dr. Sony and two nurses traveled to Plain Matin. Our staff member, Jeanne, wrote us, saying that visit was a real blessing. The clinic worked differently than it usually did — many people were dealing with the emotional trauma of the earthquake along with their physical problems. Dr. Sony and his team spent more time with patients, listening and talking to them.

We are also bringing these Quarterly Medical Clinics to Bassin Caiman this year, thanks to the support of Friendship Community Church. The first of these clinics happened in early January, where 110 patients were seen. Dr. Sony and his team worked all day, filling out paperwork using the flashlights on their phones so everyone who came could be cared for.

On his last report, Dr. Sony encouraged our team to “continue to invest ourselves even more in these kinds of initiatives involving the most vulnerable populations.” We are grateful for his willingness to partner with us!