Volunteers for Homeopaths Without Borders-North America (HWB) conducted their second successful emergency response clinic in Port Au Prince March 23-30.

Working out of tents on the grounds of the Hopital Francais d’Haiti, Sushila Lalsingh, executive director of HWB, Lauri Grossman, Helen Hardinge-Field, Robin Murphy and Andrew Lustig, all experienced homeopathic practitioners, treated approximately 500 patients each day. They were warmly greeted by the Haitian people on their return and received positive feedback from patients who were aided during the first mission in February.

Noted was the shift in problems from acute to chronic. Basic health care was foremost with an emphasis on nutritional issues. Additionally, the group was confronted with skin and eye problems, hypertension, women’s maladies, fever and colds. As Haiti enters the rainy season, HWB personnel are preparing for the onset of tropical diseases when they again visit Haiti in midsummer.

Keeping in the forefront the dual goals of HWB to provide treatment and education to populations in need, the group laid the groundwork for the training of medical personnel in Port Au Prince. In response to enthusiasm and cooperation demonstrated by health care professionals at the Hopital Francais, Sushila and Robin met with individual doctors to introduce them to homeopathy. Plans are underway for a large-scale teaching seminar during the next mission, which is scheduled for summer.

As a result of the success of the clinic, HWB has is also responding to a request from Mother Mary of Mercy orphanage in Port Au Prince to minister to the children residing there. This undertaking will begin in the summer and run concurrently with the clinic; as a component of the program, caretakers will receive instruction in the basics of homeopathy.

The ultimate goal of HWB-NA is to establish a permanent clinic in Port Au Prince with Haitian health care professionals actively participating under the supervision of HWB volunteers.