Healing in Haiti
Diocesan Press Service. September 1, 1962 [II-4]
A blind child, abandoned at a public hospital in 1945, and the interest and love of a Sister of St. Margaret mark the beginning of what has become the St. Vincent's School for Handicapped Children. By the end of 1945, this Sister had 20 such children to care for, and her interest and devotion brought about one of the most respected institutions in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
The school, which is now under the leadership of Sister Joan Margaret, offers a rehabilitation program including education, counselling, vocational training, placement, and financial assistance. After beginning in a temporary residence in a Red Cross building, the school moved into the former orphanage in 1949, and since then, two one-story buildings have been built to help house the classes and clinic.
There are now about 100 children enrolled as full-time boarding students, and about 400 others who come as outpatients to attend classes and receive treatment in the clinic. Young Haitian women have been trained as teachers of the blind and deaf, and the school has two Haitian nurses on its staff. Generous cooperation is received from Haitian doctors. In January of 1962, it was reported that there were 42 blind children being cared for, 15 of whom were blind due to the effects of malnutrition.
Of course, to offer such a program required a good and constant supply of medicines and equipment. Through participation in the Interchurch Medical Assistance, Inc. program, the Overseas Department of the National Council has been able to assist in securing donations of valuable medicines and food supplements. Paul A. Tate, who administers this program for the Overseas Department, and who has been dubbed "Mr. Medicine" by St. Vincent's, reports that in the first five months of 1962, medicaments valued at $61,484.67 have been sent to St. Vincent's. . Mr. Tate has found that this independent, interdenominational organization is a most effective means of receiving these valuable medicines which are donated for use in overseas medical work.
The Interchurch Medical Assistance, Inc., was established in 1961 and seeks to consolidate requests of churches and agencies for donations of drugs, hospital and dental supplies, and equipment needed to expand programs of free medical care to the destitute and disease-ridden of the world. Three million dollars worth of drugs and supplies (manufacturers value) was received by IMA from 94 pharmaceutical and hospital supply firms in 1961 and shipped to overseas mission hospitals and medical centers. Thirteen different churches have benefited by these contributions, and the Overseas Department of the Episcopal Church has been able to be of assistance to medical programs in eight countries. In fact, in the first five months of 1962, a total of $141,673.79 worth of medical supplies was received for use in Episcopal medical work overseas.
Although these valuable items have been free to the Church, the Church has had to bear the cost of packing and shipping. Through the good offices of Church World Service, these charges have been kept at a minimum -- the packing charge amounting to 4¢ a pound (with a minimum of $5.00 for any one shipment), and the majority of the overseas freight being paid under the plan of government reimbursement to Church World Service. Such shipping and packing costs to the Episcopal Church amounted to a total of $824.05 in the first six months of 1962. This is, indeed, a bargain.
However, there are still needs to be met. There are countless thousands in desperate need who look to the Church for physical as well as spiritual care. In Haiti, the blind children continue to need attention and training. The constant supply of medical assistance needed will be possible only as long as money is available to ship drugs, vitamins, food supplements and hospital equipment. This is one area where it is literally true that "no gift is too small." For a total of $5.00, medicines valued at $100.00 or more can be packed for shipment. One hundred dollars worth of medicines can mean the giant step toward a new life for a handicapped child.