Appeal from Bishop Thomas Gumbleton and Johanna Berrigan:

Dear Friends,

We are writing to update you on the progress of our health care project in Haiti, the Klinik Sen Michel. Of course, we are hoping for your continued support. On Ash Wednesday, we were in Haiti to visit the clinic site and to meet with members of the St. Claire’s parish community. We witnessed once again much poverty and suffering, but we also experienced the deep joy of the people because of the hope of what is to come. We are pleased to share with you the good news: we expect to open Klinik Sen Michel to provide health care services this spring.

We were inspired by the continued dedication and hard work of the St. Claire’s Parish Community. Many things have been accomplished:     

• Romy Morency graduated from Medical school and returned to Haiti to be the Medical Director and Physician for the Klinik Sen Michel.
• 10 people from St. Claire’s Parish completed the Health Promoter Training Program.
• Construction on the building is completed and includes: two exam rooms, a laboratory, a treatment room, and a bathroom. An outdoor bathroom adjacent to the clinic is completed.
• A waiting/ observation area is under construction.
• An association comprised of parish members who will be responsible for overseeing the functioning of the clinic has been formed.
• Daniel Tillias, our friend, driver and translator, accepted the position of U. S. / Haitian coordinator of the project.
• A water system is being developed to provide water to the clinic site.
• A generator has been purchased.

In order to complete the project, we still need to raise money for the completion of the electrical work on the building and to purchase the following supplies: an inverter, refrigerator, and medical and laboratory equipment. We will also need money on an ongoing basis for the stipends of Dr. Morency, the health promoters, and the members of the association.

Dr. Morency is ready to begin providing services and immunizations for the children at the clinic. Services will expand rapidly once the clinic opens.

In the long term, we are confident that many individuals, parishes, and peace and justice groups will partner with us in sustaining this project. For the majority of Haitians, whose income is $1.00 a day, their very survival depends  upon the generous alms of many others. Your continued generosity will have a lasting effect on the health and well being of the whole community.

With Easter Hope,

Bishop Thomas Gumbleton                           Johanna Berrigan

Archdiocese of Detroit                                  House of Grace Catholic Worker

Checks can be sent to:

Fonkoze USA

50 F Street, NW

 Suite 810

Washington DC, 20001

You must clearly indicate in the memo line: Klinik Sen Michel.

Klinik Sen Michel Background:

The need for a clinic:
In Sept. of 2004, during a trip to Haiti to investigate human rights violations, Bishop Gumbleton and Johanna Berrigan of the House of Grace Catholic Worker met with Fr. Gerard Jean-Juste, Pastor of St. Claire's Church in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti. Affectionately known as Fr. Gerry, Father Jean-Juste is a dynamic, dedicated priest who ministers to some of the most impoverished people on earth. Fr. Jean-Juste shared with Bishop Gumbleton and Johanna his vision of establishing a health care clinic in the community. He appealed to them for help. Since then, members of the House of Grace Catholic Worker community in Philadelphia and Bishop Gumbleton have traveled to Haiti multiple times to work towards the goal of establishing a health care clinic.

Steps towards the goal:
In collaboration with the St. Claire's parish community, and with the extraordinary leadership and faith of those committed people, the following steps were taken:

• A health care committee of 12 people was formed in Haiti to oversee the project
• Arrangements were made for 5 people from the parish to attend a 16 week Health Promoter Training Program
• Daniel Tillias, a Pax Christi member in Haiti agreed to be the project liason
• Ketty Depestre, a parisioner began constructon on a building that she has offered for use as the future Clinique de St. Michel
• Finally, and most inspiring, Romy Morency, a young Haitian woman who recently graduated from medical school felt called to return to serve her community. She writes, "I am ready to give my help fro the good of humanity, something more than making money and being rich. I believe that God is counting on us to save lives when we can. Romy will be the Medical Director of the clinic.

Current needs:
The present goal is to continue to accompany the parish community to establish this clinic and help sustain it through financial contributions, supplies, and technical advice. The clinic will be staffed and run entirely by Haitians with volunteer opportunities for poeople from the United States on a short-term baisis.

Money is needed to complete the construction on the clinic building and for start-up costs" purchasing supplies, equipment, medicines, and salaries for Haitian employees.

Haiti is the most impoverished country in the Western Hemisphere. Everyone who has traveled to Haiti with Bishop Gumbleton and the House of Grace members agrees that it is a blessing and a privilege to work with this community where the suffering and the need are so great. Any assistance that you can offer is deeply appreciated.

Haiti's Health Care Crisis

• Haiti has the highest rates of infant, under five and maternal mortality in the Western hemisphere; Diarrhea, respiratory infections, malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS are the leading causes of death.
• There are 1.2 million children under the age of 5. Over half of these children suffer from malnutrition.
• Some 40 - 60 % of the people, primarily in the rural areas, lack access to basic health care services.
• Only 25% of Haitian children have access to the vaccines they need to survive.
• It is estimated that 5.6% of people ages 15-49 years old in Haiti are living with HIV/AIDS. This includes 19,000 children.
• A little over half of primary school-age children are enrolled in school. Less than 2% of children finish secondary school.
• Approximately 1,000 children are working as messengers, spies and even soldiers for armed gangs in Port au Prince.

Haiti At A Glance

Haiti has been plagued by poverty, lawlessness and violence, especially since President Jean - Bertrand Aristide was forcibly removed from office by the U. S. government in a coup d'etat in February, 2004. Even with the democratic election of President Rene Preval in July, 2006, Haiti continues to be in a political, economic and human rights crisis of immense proportions.

• Haiti shares the island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic, 100 minutes air travel time from Miami.
• Haiti is approximately the size of Maryland. Population: 8.2 million people.
• Haiti is the poorest country in the Western hemisphere, the 4th poorest country in the world.
• Only 45% of adults are employed - 2/3 of them are in informal jobs.
• 80% of the population lives on less than $1.00 per day.
• The median income is about $60.00 per year.
• Only 10% of the population has electricity.
• Half of the population has no access to safe drinking water.
• Average life expectancy for Haitians is 50 years.

Additional Resources

The Uses of Haiti, by Paul Farmer (Common Courage Press, 2003)

www.haitiaction.net

www.ijdh.org

www.unicef.org/infobycountry/haiti.html

www.law.miami.edu/cshr/