Medical Care
Haiti’s challenges are well-known.
It is the poorest country in the western hemisphere. Sadly, it is at an all-time level of poverty, even greater than the after-effects of the January 2010 earthquake when people perished and thousands of people came to their aid to provide assistance.
Now in 2021, the assistance is gone and extreme poverty remains. This poverty extends throughout the nation. It infiltrates Haiti’s schools, businesses, and tragically, its medical care.
Medical care is critical for this nation to thrive and to be able to stand on its own.
Our Clinic
The first on-site clinic in the village of Gramothe took place under the shade of a bed sheet tied between trees. Once buildings were constructed, the clinic was then moved to a classroom at the MTM Gramothe School. Today, the MTM Gramothe Clinic has its own established building which can accommodate seven exam stations, a lab, and a fully stocked pharmacy. Every patient has their own file with their medical history to ensure consistency and quality of care.
The clinic is open when teams travel.
Experienced medical teams of physicians, dentists, nurses, and other healthcare professionals from North America visit two to three times a month and provide a variety of healthcare services to the thousands of patients who will come to be treated on these trips. While in the waiting area, patients receive information on proper hygiene, hypertension, diabetes, dental care, and nutrition.
When a medical clinic is in session, nearly 1,000 people will be seen in a week’s period.
Maybe a few of those will be from Gramothe, but nearly 95% are patients from outside the area. For the most part, the Gramothe region has been educated through academics and with healthcare. Fortunately, it is now a very healthy region. Medical care continues for the locals, yet now reaches to many outside of the region. We are grateful that our roots have grown deep while our branches are able to reach even more people to provide them medical care!
Within the clinic, there is a diverse group of healthcare professionals and expertise.
Our providers include vascular surgeons, family doctors, nurse practitioners, dentists, pharmacists, and optometrists.
Heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes are the top health concerns in Haiti. However, any clinic will bring a myriad of concerns and illnesses. Too often, children battle against scabies, worms, iron deficiencies, and poor water supplies, which stunts their growth and cognitive abilities. In America, these diseases can be treated and managed with consistent medical care. With education and clinics in Haiti, this can also be true by treating and offering assistance for hundreds of different ailments with consistent care.
Medical care is free to students and at a minimal cost for others.
Our Future Health Center
Mountain Top Ministries is excited about the future. Recently, we announced the future opening of a Health Center in a heavily populated area. Currently, there is no permanent local medical clinic in this area, and the nearest medical clinic is roughly a one-hour ride on a crammed, tap-tap (a taxi), or the Gramothe clinic that operates when a team is able to travel. The Health Center will bring routine care to the center of Thomassin, where tens of thousands of locals would have access.
Mountain Top Ministries is busy building its next medical facility in Haiti. Our MTM team has already identified a vacant building that would serve the area residents very well. For others outside of the area, it is located less than walking distance from the main highway. Services would include basic routine medical care, as well as pre- and post-natal care, women’s services, pediatric care, and triage for even more severe ailments.
The building itself is in good condition.
The roof, plumbing, minor structural changes, and flooring will require upgrades. The power will also need to be enhanced to ensure a sufficient energy source for the medical equipment. The structure is 3600 square feet on one floor and is handicap accessible. There are four exam rooms, a lobby to greet patients, and a pharmacy, as well as administrative offices.
The new Health Center will provide a long-term solution.
It will assist the Mountain Top Ministries clinics in nearby Gramothe. This proposed Health Center will be available for follow-up care from an MTM clinic as well as ongoing care when the Gramothe clinic doors are closed, waiting for the next team to arrive. As the project progresses, we hope to be open on a daily basis with the possibility of overnight care, as well.
Get Involved
“It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.”
— Tim Baxter, MD, FACS
“Serving with MTM has changed my life in ways I never thought possible. It took me back to the core reason I became a physician assistant – to provide for the needs of patients. I have gained a new family by serving with a team, and renewed faith in how many selfless people still remain in this crazy world.”
— Jeanne Laible, PA-C
“Volunteering with MTM has taught me that nursing is not just caring for people’s needs, but also recognizing the humanity of others. Through my personal experience, I have seen the value of their services on the frontlines. I am grateful to be a part of an organization that continues to give back to the people of Haiti.”
— Katie Noble, RN