“I am in awe of these residents (at Justinian Hospital) for their hard work in the face of constant adversity. They are so hungry for knowledge, and their skills at physical diagnosis are top notch. They have an ability to observe details that would elude most American physicians.”

Ann Lemire, MD
Pediatrician and Internist
Konbit Sante board member

FAQS

What does Konbit Sante mean?

• In Haitian Creole, a konbit is a traditional Haitian method of working together to till your friends’ fields as well as your own - a cooperative effort. Sante means health. So the name means working together for health.

How did you get started?

• In 2000, a group of medical and non-medical people in Portland decided they wanted to improve the health care system in a long-term, sustainable way, in an underdeveloped country.

Why did you choose Haiti?

• The needs in Haiti are tremendous. Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere and has the dismal health statistics that accompany extreme poverty. We were introduced to Cap-Haitien and the Justinian University Hospital by colleagues at the University of Miami medical school in Florida who run a family medicine residence program in Cap-Haitien.

Do they have doctors and nurses who are highly trained in Haiti?

• Yes. The doctors and nurses are very well educated, but they lack the technical and pharmaceutical resources to practice high quality of medicine. Unfortunately, because of low pay and lack of resources, 80% of doctors who graduate from the nation’s three medical schools leave Haiti to practice in Canada, the US, Europe, and elsewhere in the Caribbean. The average income for a doctor in Haiti is in the range of US$15,000 to $20,000.

Is there a lot of AIDS in Haiti?

• Haiti has the highest rate of AIDS in the western hemisphere, comparable with those in parts of sub-Saharan Africa. The risk of contracting HIV/AIDS is extremely low for our volunteers since the nature of their work does not expose them to transmission.

Do you take teams of volunteers to provide care?

• We’re different from many other organizations in that we do not send teams of doctors and nurses to provide hands-on care. Instead, our staff and volunteers work with Haitian colleagues to develop health care programs, to teach doctors and nurses, to collect and deliver much-needed medical equipment and supplies, and to make infrastructure improvements.

Is it safe to go to Haiti?

• There are always risks traveling to developing countries, the most significant being road accidents. Although most tropical diseases are present in Haiti (malaria, filariasis, Dengue fever, typhoid, intestinal parasites), the risk can be minimized with proper preventive methods. In terms of personal safety, we are comfortable walking around the city of Cap-Haitien during the day, but we generally do not go out at night. We feel safe.

What do volunteers actually do?

• The physicians, nurses, and medical technicians teach their colleagues (and also learn from them), plan programs together, and solve problems. The electricians and water experts work directly with hospital staff to improve the infrastructure. Other volunteers gather, pack, and distribute medical equipment and supplies. Konbit Sante also encourages volunteers to work with other charitable programs in Cap-Haitien.

How are you funded?

• Konbit Sante depends largely on the generous donations from individuals and organizations to fund our programs. We also have grants for specific programs in pediatrics (from USAID, the SG Foundation, and Dorothea Haus Ross), tuberculosis care (USAID), infection control (PAHEF), hookworm treatment (Conservation, Food & Health Foundation), and water (Rotary International). We are currently seeking funding to implement additional water projects at Justinian Hospital, to reduce maternal mortality, to improve surgery and emergency medicine departments, and to extend our reach into the community for prevention and treatment.

Why is Haiti in such bad shape? Can you make a difference?

• The answer to this question is neither simple nor easy. It is important to keep in mind that Haiti became independent about 200 years ago in the first successful slave revolt in the Caribbean. This abrupt independence from the French left Haiti without a stable system of government and without a viable economy. Haiti has few natural resources, and its primary source of revenue 30 years ago, tourism, was wiped out when Haiti became wrongly identified as the source of AIDS (in fact it was the recipient). Konbit Sante’s work won’t change the whole country, but we believe we can make a meaningful difference in the health care system in northern Haiti.

How do you deal with language differences?

• Although several staff and volunteers are fluent in either French or Creole, most speak only English. Many Haitian professionals can communicate in English, and we hire translators when needed. We encourage volunteers to learn at least a few basic Creole phrases.

What types of support are helpful? I am not a clinician, so what could I do to help?

• Konbit Sante needs volunteers to pick up equipment and supplies, organize and load containers, and create awareness in the community. We work closely with several other organizations in Cap-Haitien who occasionally need non-clinical volunteers.

Can someone from your organization come and speak to my group?

• We have volunteers and staff who regularly speak to clubs, church groups, service organizations, and schools. We would be happy to speak to your group.

Is Konbit Sante affiliated with any government, religious, or other organizations?

• Konbit Sante is a non-sectarian, non-political not-for-profit organization. Our non-affiliated status allows us to have broad alliances here and in Haiti, and our donors and partners with whom we collaborate include people of many faiths and ideologies.

Where can I get more information?
Have other questions? Would you like to receive news from Konbit Sante? Please contact us at: info@konbitsante.org, or 207-347-6733.