It has been four days since arriving in Marchand Dessalines and the weather remains very much as when we left in 2007. It was quite warm last evening (90F) well into the early hours although much quieter than the previous night. Even the rooster elected to sleep in until almost 3:30AM!
We awake this morning to a lack of both water for showering and electricity as there is no fuel currently to run the generator. Fuel prices here in Haiti are similar to that found in the States currently with a gallon of diesel selling in the $4.00/USD. Pricing is a bit unusual in that whether it is purchased in single gallon or 2000 gallon increments it is the same cost. The hospital has a 2500 gallon tank that has not been filled completely for many years.
Projects at the hospital are again well under way. Our newest volunteer has created much value in a short period of time; replacing a sink in the maternity/delivery. When finished at the hospital we took time to arrange for a similar installation in one of the apartments here on the compound that is presently vacant.
A second team unassociated with the hospital will be arriving tomorrow to work a small clinic in one of the market towns roughly an hour’s drive from Dessalines. This will be an interesting team to provide feedback on their experiences as they are staying here at the apartments and are used to more luxurious accommodation staying at one of the beach resorts in previous years.
We are on to building window screens for a new office being created to house the official Government statistician for the hospital. This individual is charged with collecting status on patient numbers, types of medical events, etc. and indirectly controls to some degree the amount of payment received from the government by the hospital – a very important individual.
Yesterday, though Sunday, was a day spent sealing a crack in the roof of the apartments we are occupying. Although rain has not been a part of our experience this trip, a series of significant faults in the roof have created a sort of waterfall event similar to what we would see in a mall back in the States – here it was occurring in the bedroom.
The structure is made of concrete and we have attempted repairs using a blowtorch that has not been operated for 15 years; a tank of propane gas used for cooking; roofing tar and felt paper left on the roof the last time the blowtorch was active. Not having a lot of hot pitch roofing background we are hoping for rain to determine whether the experience was fruitful or needing more attention. It ended up a draining experience that left all pretty well finished for the day as temperatures on the roof approached 120F.
It is 6:06AM here and all are up and moving for the day, water or no water, electricity or not there is work to be accomplished. We will be working the hospital again today hoping to finish off the hanging of a door; constructing “baby warmers” (it is over 80F according to the thermometer as I write) for maternity and investigating a leak in the plumbing of one of the buildings.
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