Day 2
Work continues to go well. Today Lori, Kristin, and I traveled to Cite Soleil to have a mobile clinic. Marcie stayed at the fixed clinic in Cabaret to help with the onslaught of Chikungunya fever patients. The team continues to impress me with their willingness to work and get their hands dirty. They have been compassionate and loving to the Haitians. There was a little matter of a giant roach on the wall of their room last night but I'll let them tell the story.
We tended to see a lot of the same viral illness today. It's hard to know if it is truly Chikungunya or other illness as there is no testing available. I also get the sense that there is a sense of hysteria rippling through the country. It's interesting because everyone I talk to has either "had the fever" or they think they currently are suffering from it. If this were an illness with higher morbidity I do believe there would be panic. As is it's like a bad case of the flu.
I hope the time we have left is as fulfilling as these first 2 days. Tomorrow we head up the mountains to do a clinic on Francise's land. It should be interesting. I am seeing areas I have never been to. On Friday, we are having a party at Vlad and Merline's to celebrate my 15th trip and Vlad and Merline's new pregnancy. We actually did an ultrasound today and found out the gender: It's a.........
