Haiti

Haiti Trip 2010

About Haiti

1. Economic
   • Recent earthquake (Jan. 2010) centered around capital Port au Prince had devastating effects
     • Structural damages
     • 230k deaths
     • Left 1.6 million homeless
     • Camps set up in capital for survivors
     • Relief effort still ongoing
   • One of the poorest and least developed countries in the world
   • Most Haitians live on less than 2 dollars per day 
   • GDP by sector: agriculture (24%), Industry (8%), services (43%), other (25%)
   • Trade: apparel, mangoes, leather, raw hides, seafood, and electrical
   • Currency: gourde (40 gourdes to the dollar)
   • Most establishments use "Haitian Dollar" (1 Haitian dollar= 5 gourdes)
2. Demographics
   • Population: 10 million
   • Official Language: Haitian Creole
   • Some French, Spanish, and English
   • Roman Catholicism, Protestant, Voodoo
3. Health/education
   • Life expectancy: 62 years women, 59 men
   • Half of population under 20 years old
   • 1 out of 8 children dies before they reach age 5
   • Literacy: 56% 
   • High AIDS/HIV population
   • 90% of children suffer from water borne diseases and intestinal parasites
   • 30 thousand suffer from malaria/yr
   • Current cholera outbreak: 917 dead and 14,600 hospitalized (as of November 16, 2010)
4. Violence
   • Port a Prince especially dangerous
   • Always be on guard - crime rate is high
   • Avoid crowds 
   • Practice caution after dark

Immunizations for travel to Haiti

Routine: MMR, HEP B, Influenza, DPT, rabies (optional), etc.

• Hepatitis A
  • First Shot gives 95% immunization (for up to 5 years) - must take at least 30 days before travel, can follow with booster in 6-10 months for 100% immunization good for 10 years.
• Typhoid
  • Available in oral form or injection.
  • Oral form (4 doses) is cheaper and gives immunization for up to 5 years. Take at least 1 week before travel.
• Malaria (antimalaria drugs - prophylaxis) 
  • Available from family Doctor. 
  • Make sure you go at least one month in advance to DR. as some forms require you start several weeks before travel.
  • Must be taken before, during, and after travel to Haiti.
  • Other precautions to take against malaria:
    • Use insect repellant and wear loose long pants and sleeves.
    • Sleep in well screened rooms or use bed nets.

Hepatitis A, Typhoid, and other missing routine vaccinations can be obtained through:

LEWIS AND CLARK County Health Department
1930 9th Ave
Helena, MT 59601
Phone: (406) 443- 2584
Vaccine walk in hours: MWF 1130-4PM 

Suggested packing list for Haiti

All to go in small backpack that will be a carry-on bag:
Light weight under clothing - long sleeve T shirts for under scrubs
Scrubs (4 pairs)
Comfortable shoes (river rock floor)
Water shoes (for shower/swimming)
Bathing suit
Eye protection (small and comfortable)
Wax Ear plugs (chickens loud at night)
Head wrap/dude rags
Headlamp
Towel for shower
Toilet paper/kleenex/hand wipes and sanitizer
Camera
Bug spray with DEET
Toiletries (only what is necessary - simple)
Medications (Pepto-Bismol, Advil, anything else you take regularly)
Notebook/journal

What NOT to bring:
iPod, MP3 player, belts, watches, jewelry. 

Trip Preparation for Haiti

PHYSICAL ARRANGEMENTS:

1. Your Physical Responsibilities:
   • Airline ticket
   • Travel expenses (guide, room and board)
2. Health Issues:
   • Immunizations (see above)
   • Sanitation
   • Bottled water
   • Medications (cream for bed bugs, Pepto-Bismol, antibiotics)
3. Transportation:
   • Airline reservations
   • Transportation while in Haiti
     • Pick up from airport
     • Transport to Jérémie
4. Documentation
   • Emergency contacts
   • Passport
   • Drivers license
   • Visa & custom slips (given on plane)
5. Accommodations:
   • Host families in Jérémie near church
6. Local Conditions:
   • Weather - Humid and hot
7. Packing List:
   • Luggage in carry on
   • Packing list (see above)
   • Check bags for dental supplies

Projects in Haiti: Building Community Center

In addition to providing free dental care to locals of Jeremie, Haiti, COT with the help of Engineers without Borders will organize and implement a plan to improve the community building/church. COT and EWB will reinforce the building, lay a concrete floor, and enclose the building. This project will allow for the community of Jeremie to have a central place which can be used for church, community gatherings, school, and clinics such as COT's dental mission. To make this project a reality, funds for the materials (which are available in Haiti) must be acquired. The cost of the project is as follows:

1. Concrete Floor
   • Concrete for floor- 125 bags of cement @ $8.25 ea. = $1,031.25 US
   • 2 loads of sand @ $88.84 ea. = $177.68 US
   • 2 loads of gravel @ $88.84 ea. = $177.68 US
2. Plaster for inside and outside of building
   • 170 bags of cement @ $8.25 ea. = $1402.28 US
   • 3 loads of sand @ $88.84 ea. = $266.50 US
3. Doors for building
   • 3 doors @ $88.84 ea. = $266.60 US

The total of the project will be $3321.60.