Gessica Augustin would like to earn her Master's Degree...

Please prayerfully consider this request from Gessica. She has worked as a nurse at Univers Medical Centre in Ouanaminthe, Haiti for 5 years and would like to now fulfill her dream to earn her Master's Degree. 

Please Contact me if you would like to discuss assisting in her education in Haiti...

Hi Mrs Marylee, 

I hope everything goes well for you. 

I had the opportunity to go to Leogane yesterday while the gangs took a break. FSIL gave me the diploma. 

I want to thank you for everything, thank you for thinking about me when this scholarship was available, I'm now a BSN and RN...now it's time for me to search for a master scholarship in order to pursue my dream...

May God bless you!

Merry Christmas    

Gessica Augustin

A Blessed New Year to you!

 

Thank you so much, SG Foundation!

https://mailchi.mp/konbitsante/summer-newsletter?e=ee9995f90a

Summer Newsletter

This summer we sent a newsletter to our supporters with featured stories highlighting some of the work Konbit Sante has been a part of! Here are a few of the featured stories. If you would like to learn more about what we do and access the newsletter, click the button below!

Click here to see the full newsletter!

Ultrasound Training Program This project is currently being conducted at Unite de Lutte pour la Sante (ULS) Health Center and Serving Sante (SS) with the plan to expand to more hospitals and health centers in Cap-Haitien. The overall purpose of this project is to strengthen maternal care and outcomes. In both cases, the medical directors at the facilities identified the need for support. At ULS Health Center, this is one component of a maternal and child health project funded by a grant from the SG Foundation. The project covers comprehensive prenatal care services, including ultrasound screening for pregnant women. On the other hand, SS had been offering prenatal ultrasounds as part of routine care until a part of their machine malfunctioned last year. The equipment was made in China and they were unable to find the replacement parts. Dr. Nelly Osias, the medical director of SS, approached Konbit Sante for assistance to obtain a new machine.

The ultrasound machines are donated by Humanitarian Radiology Development Corp, a non-profit organization that is led by our collaborator, Dr. Berndt Schmit. The organization donates equipment and provides training and tools for the users. The machines and screenings conducted by them, have been able to help make births safer for women and their newborn children. Data from ULS Health Center indicates they were able to conduct sixty scans from December 2020 to April 2021, and only seven of those pregnancies had fetal complications and required special health treatment. Our programs team, on the ground, is working alongside our healthcare partners and collaborators to strengthen this project. We are hopeful that this project will improve and facilitate better health outcomes for pregnant women.

Internship Profile: Alice Cockerham

Alice is Kobit Sante’s Social Media and Fundraising intern for the summer of 2021. Alice is a rising junior at Bates College studying Anthropology and Religious studies. She hopes to pursue work in the non-profit field once she graduates. She stated, “Interning at Konbit Sante this summer has been an incredible opportunity. I have been able to get a taste of what a future career in the field of global health would look and feel like.” Some of her responsibilities include creating, editing, and publishing content for Konbit Sante’s social media accounts, interviewing and developing organizational profiles, and writing various pieces for the newsletters. She is also leading the efforts with our summer fundraiser, We Walk with Haiti. She has developed content for it, collaborated with team members to set up their fundraising pages, and raised funds for the walk too! While working remotely, she has been able to attend our US-based staff meetings and the Fundraising and Communications Committee meetings. She has also been working with team members individually, as it pertains to her internship role. In writing the profiles and newsletter pieces, she has had the opportunity to connect with the Haiti-based staff members to learn more about their work and the programs they operate. Alice mentioned, “One of my favorite responsibilities is talking to our partners in Haiti. Their stories are powerful and inspiring. Being involved in such a small part of the work at Konbit Sante has been a very rewarding experience for me.” We are excited to have a summer intern from Bates College and hope to continue the internship program with Bates Colleges and other nearby colleges and universities in the years to come!

Make Births Safe for Women This project was awarded a $15,000 grant from SG Foundation last year through Konbit Sante. This has been a year-long project focused on making births safe for women and improving the health outcomes of children living in Band du Nord - a peri-urban community of 25,000 people located in the outskirts of Cap-Haitien, Haiti. This project has encompassed four interventions: prenatal clinics, mobile clinics, rally posts, and support for traditional birth attendants. Prenatal clinics provide pregnant women with basic prenatal care focused on risk identification, prevention and management of pregnancy-related complications, and health counseling. Mobile clinics occur once a month at geographically isolated, hard to reach communities. These clinics offer a range of preventive and curative services for the whole family, including screening and hospital referrals for malnourished children. These clinics also serve as vaccination sites. Finally, traditional birth attendants meet monthly with ULS Health Center nurses to receive birthing kits, discuss challenging cases, and review topics for continuing education and skill-building interventions. Traditional birth attendants also identify and refer at-risk pregnant women to ULS Health Center. This project had 4423 direct beneficiaries between December 2020 and April 2021. We estimate there were approximately 14,000 people that were indirect beneficiaries of this project. Despite some financial and political disturbances in the area, ULS Health Center continued to provide quality care and services to a significant portion of the population.

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Copyright (C) 2021 Konbit Sante Cap-Haitien Health Partnership. All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you are a valued supporter of Konbit Sante's work in Haiti. You may change your communication preferences at any time. Our mailing address is: Konbit Sante Cap-Haitien Health Partnership 362 U.S. Route 1 Falmouth, ME 04105

All Praise to God, funding for Jamescy's medical needs have been met!

 Thanks be to God for His faithfulness...It is so exciting to see God move His Church to meet the needs of those around us. I am just overjoyed to see His Hand in this need!

I thank the precious hearts of my CVCA classmates and my Friends in the Ministry, who 'moved the mountain' of Jamescy's medical costs. 

The funds needed are now covered and I'll be able to wire the money this week, BEFORE the doctor's deadline to pay. 

What is especially GOOD is, for Jamescy to lean on the Lord for his needs; to not fret and worry, as God is teaching him to Trust in Him. 

I have taught Jamescy and the other students to cover what they can so that they learn the value of things. I was pleased to get a message from a friend in the ministry yesterday that Jamescy reached out to her on his own, for help to pay for his medical needs. It's a learning curve for the students to not depend on Mrs. Marylee to do it all for them. They are learning, when possible to earn it themselves, ask family, then ask others. Life lessons - just like with our own children!

If I may now ask...now that this prayer has been answered: 

Please pray for the healing and care of Jamescy's legs-that the fracture and the infection don't cause long-term or permanent damage; for Jamescy to be able to finish his Senior Graduating Project (view previous blogposts); for the doctors involved (they are weary as they are trying to meet thousands of needs - medically, spiritually, physically, mentally, emotionally); for the ministries in Haiti who tirelessly serve, through this earthquake, the weather, and the poverty. 

Thank you, all. All for Him,

Marylee

Jamescy needs our help again for a medical issue

 

Hello - I've verbally gotten the word out to many of our supporters but want to get the word out to as many people as possible.

I am in the process of raising funds for Jamescy to get his legs treated for the injuries he sustained in the recent Haiti earthquake.

As the dorm building shook all the students rushed to the stairwell to get down to the ground outside. In the surge of students Jamescy ran to the stairwell, clutching his laptop and phone. He fell, dropping his phone when he was pushed. He eventually was trampled to the point of breaking one of his legs and getting rebar in his other leg, due to the dormitory still being under construction (in Haiti, they don't generally finish a building before making use of the building). His broken leg is healing but the leg with the metal in it is infected. His phone was broken beyond repair but his laptop was spared.

We have been able to provide funds for a new phone and some of the medical treatment, but there is a balance to pay and additional medical treatment needed for the infected leg.

Thanks to some very generous people, as of last night at my 45th CVCA Class Reunion, we only need US$615.00 more to cover his immediate medical care. 

Please prayerfully consider helping Jamescy as soon as possible. Thank you so much. May God bless each one of you, and meet you in your needs.

All for Him,

Marylee

You can contact me to donate directly to me so that we can wire the funds as quickly as possible, or if you want to go through the ministry's financial organization (Allegro Solutions) for tax purposes, please view the instructions on this blog's tab (click on this link):

• Partners in the Ministry (Financial Support instructions)

Please continue to pray...

The death toll is over 2,000 as of this morning.

Click on link OR copy and paste to your browser:

https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/haitiearthquake?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZVrj6iETxeDlGnTlvxOLZJN9F9X-GgQMC8wa1tpRcq4OeihvQ8T6r5q9IybjzccmR3ccFZacxhhCm-xu0rLhg7wgheXX7a7nYw26AyxbqoR7wrTqo6c6dhUVkgSDEh7kTg-6-6fRtpp7jWWzU9U-kz2&__tn__=*NK-R

https://hopeforhaiti.com/?fbclid=IwAR2r3kImC6F9zLvNwKhv0tD6nOx4_SoHmjgYBh5ZhrjR1oag92LLxuD29Kg

Specific prayer and financial need for Jamescy

 Jamescy Flereleau, one of the agricultural students at Christian University of North Haiti, was able to whats app me from his laptop, after I reached out to many in Haiti this past Saturday.

The students in his dormitory congregated to the stairwells of the five-story dormitory to escape as quickly as possible from the building. In the process, being caught in the crowd, he fractured his leg and dropped his cell phone. He had only time to grab his laptop and cell phone from his room before heading to the stairwell. His cell phone is irreparable as he has found out, and now, without having the funds for a consultation for his leg, let alone set it in a cast, a doctor has still not allowed him to receive treatment.

In all of this, he is most concerned about taking care of his garden for his senior project! (see recent blog post)

I have wired some funds to him but he will need more for a new phone and possibly more medical care to heal his leg properly. If you can help, please contact me. I am able to wire through Western Union.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

PLEASE continue to pray...

Click on this link or copy/paste the link to your browser...

for an update; an update of hope.

https://haitiotptdegrees.wordpress.com/2021/08/18/hope-again-in-the-students-mission-to-the-cold-wet-windy-dark-southern-peninsula/?fbclid=IwAR2vqs9_ZMSZXxmElHSdkOdvkRMPnmHFPLKzfXDEpW99-6hs5UKt_VCgd1o

Agricultural Student in Haiti needs final funding to finish his Graduation project

Jamescy Flereleau, now in his final year at the Christian University of North Haiti studying Agriculture, is coming up short financially to finish his "Senior Project". Currently, he needs US$200.00 to pay for a "Visa Passport" to be able to travel to and from the Dominican Republic to purchase the remaining supplies he needs, to complete his project. 

Are you able to help get him to his goal?

As you can see from his project photos below, he is SO CLOSE to completing his project. 

His educational costs have been fulfilled, the greenhouse is built, the plants are purchased, thanks all to those who have come beside him to see his dream come true to earn his college degree. Now, in his Senior Project, he has this last hurdle.

If you are touched by his accomplishments thus far and want to help him cross the finish line please contact me immediately by comment below, message me or email me.

Thank you for considering, and hopefully participating in his project!

                                                            

My heart is breaking for my beloved Haitian family and friends

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We continue to stand with Haiti and wish for peace at this time.

Konbit Sante stands with the people of Haiti at this time. We express our sympathy for the current situation and hope for the smooth recovery of the first lady’s health. In response to the recent events, Konbit Sante will continue to work steadily to determine the next steps to ensure the safety of our staff, partners, and collaborators. Our team, on the ground, continues to support the needs of the local Haitian people and will continue to closely monitor the situation on the ground. In the days to come, we will need your support and are thankful for your continued encouragement. Please join us and stand by us as we support the people of Haiti. If you’d like to support our ongoing work during this time, please take a moment to donate on our website. Additionally, if you have any questions or concerns please reach out to us. Thank you for your time and support. We remain grateful for it. Kembe Fem Ekip!

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Copyright (C) 2021 Konbit Sante Cap-Haitien Health Partnership. All rights reserved.

What Joy to hear Dr. Touissaint

Champion for Change: Paul Toussaint

“Medicine chose me,” stated Dr. Toussaint. What started as a way to please his mother, ended up developing into a love and passion; that is his passion for healthcare. Dr. Toussaint is the attending physician in the pediatric services unit at Justinien University Hospital (JUH) and is the medical director of Haitian Baptist Convention Hospital (HCBH). Dr. Toussaint graduated with his degree as a doctor of medicine from the State University of Haiti in 1992. Thereafter, he specialized in pediatrics. He then obtained a certificate in neonatal pediatrics from the University of the Antilles and Guyana located in Martinique. Back at home in Haiti, he settled in the North where he currently works. He has worked at JUH for the past 20 years and spends his time observing and working with patients, meeting parents and families, supervising the activities of different staff members, and conducting administrative work. His days are often long and busy, as there is always work to be done.

Dr. Toussaint has accomplished many amazing things during his career. Most notably he has played a vital role in the growth and development of HCBH. He wrote, “My greatest pride is being able to watch HCBH grow and know that the families of staff members lead healthy lives thanks to this hospital.” The hospital employs 287 staff members and their families depend on that salary as well. Konbit Sante has been lucky enough to be able to be a part of Dr. Toussaint’s career and journey thus far. Dr. Toussaint stated, “I find encouragement in working with a methodical approach. Konbit Sante helped me to improve and made me understand that my work is appreciated and useful.” When asked why he works in Haiti, he responded, “Haiti is one of the poorest countries in the world. It is politically unstable. But it’s my country. And I understand many children die because of lack of healthcare. It is the responsibility of each Haitian to work for the happiness of the country and to try to give joy and hope to the children of Haiti.” The smile and the joy on the faces of children is something Dr. Toussaint remembers always. Sometimes, when he thought he was unknown, doctors or overly grateful moms, several years later, thanked him for caring for their children. According to him, that feeling is very gratifying and encourages him to continue his work tenaciously. He concluded as follows, “Working as a pediatrician in Haiti is choosing to be useful. Don’t forget children die in this country because they are often not the first priority of decision makers. Let us KONBIT to bring hope, smile, health, and education to the children. Haiti will thus rise from the ashes to make progress.”

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Copyright (C) 2021 Konbit Sante Cap-Haitien Health Partnership. All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you are a valued supporter of Konbit Sante's work in Haiti. You may change your communication preferences at any time. Our mailing address is: Konbit Sante Cap-Haitien Health Partnership 362 U.S. Route 1 Falmouth, ME 04105

Evelyne and Emmanuella's commencement

 It has been such a blessing and privilege to serve these young women as they and Marie-Claire earned their MBA's at Elms College in Massachusetts. 

Marie-Claire has returned to Haiti, working as Country Coordinator for The Dalton Foundation.

Emmanuella and Evelyne continue in their internships until October 2021, in Ohio and Florida, respectively.

What joy to my heart! And I hope to yours, too!

All praise to our great God!

So exciting and so needed...

KONBIT SANTE RECEIVES GRANT FOR CRITICAL UPGRADES AT JUH Konbit Sante has been awarded a $160,000 grant by the U.S. Agency for International Development to make capital improvements to the pediatric services building at Justinien University Hospital!

Solar panels displayed on the roof of Justinien University Hospital

The multifaceted project will focus on infrastructure and maintenance upgrades aimed at improving health outcomes for young patients. The grant will be paired with about $25,000 worth of volunteer hours and in-kind donations to fund the project, which includes: Repurposing an existing rooftop solar panel array that currently supplies power to the municipal power grid to one that supplies power to the pediatric services facility through high-tech batteries Repairing the domestic water pumping system and restoring it to automated controls Equipping the hospital with a two-year supply of air filters for the building’s ventilation system Providing maintenance and operations training on the building systems to the facility’s staff “We are grateful for the funds from USAID to execute this project,” said Konbit Sante Executive Director Rupal Ramesh Shah. “The leadership staff as well as the pediatrics services staff at JUH are looking forward to the completion of this project so that they can continue to effectively manage patient care.”

Technical Manager, Hugh Tozer

The grant proposal was developed by former Konbit Sante executive director Nate Nickerson, who also worked with USAID to secure the funds. USAID is an independent agency of the United States federal government that leads international development and humanitarian efforts to save lives, reduce poverty, strengthen democratic governance, and help people progress beyond assistance. Konbit Sante is partnering with the nonprofit organization JustEnergy (also known as Justice and Mercy Energy Services) on the solar power portion of the project. The two organizations previously partnered on projects that provided solar power to the Konbit Sante office and to Unité de Lutte pour la Santé (ULS) Health Center in Bande du Nord, Haiti. The repurposing of the solar panel system at JUH is especially important, as frequent power outages in the pediatric services facility has resulted in infant mortalities, said project manager Bob MacKinnon, who also serves on the Konbit Sante board of directors.

Project manager, Bob MacKinnon

“Since the construction of the pediatrics building in 2017, the municipal power supply has become increasingly unreliable,” MacKinnon said. “The interruption of power means that much of the life-saving and support equipment does not function when most needed. Consequentially, infant mortality has increased in the ward. “Converting the solar array to a back-up power supply system should provide these critical, lifesaving circuits with uninterruptable power in most situations, and the hospital should see a reduction in infant mortality rates.” MacKinnon has a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from the University of Southern Maine and a Maine-issued Class IV Water Operators’ License. He recently retired as superintendent of the Yarmouth (Maine) Water District after a 36-year career with the district. He has been a volunteer with Konbit Sante since 2009, and served as president of the board of directors for a couple of terms. Hugh Tozer is the technical manager for the project, and has been key in coordinating the design aspects and material specifications. Tozer is a water and wastewater engineer with Woodard & Curran in Portland, Maine, and has volunteered with Konbit Sante since 2003. He is a current member and past president of Konbit Sante’s board of directors. Both MacKinnon and Tozer have made numerous trips to Haiti in the past to provide professional expertise and to conduct repairs and improvements to Konbit Sante’s partner healthcare facilities. “This project has been a true Konbit, with people from USAID, Konbit Sante, JustEnergy, and JUH bringing their expertise to bear on everything from the development of the grant and plans, to designing and procuring the supplies, and ultimately to construction and startup,” Tozer said. “Thanks to all the hard work, the pediatrics service will have a better infrastructure that supports care for the children.”

Copyright (C) 2021 Konbit Sante Cap-Haitien Health Partnership. All rights reserved.