Sandy Zapata/Staff Writer
Medical professors create non-profit to help Haiti
Before the disastrous earthquake that crippled Haiti in 2010, before the world-wide attention and before the millions of U.S. professionals who heeded to aid Haiti, Dr. Pilar Martin, M.D., M.P.H. and fellow colleagues and students of the International Health Connection had already beat them to the punch.
Michael Melchior, M.P.H., 2008, Ph.D in Health Promotion, April 2012, and Brian Kunkle, M.P.H, 2005, Ph.D. in Environmental Health, 2011, were the first students who took notice of Martin’s trips to Rose-Mina de Diegue Orphanage in Port-au-Prince.
Melchior recalled his first trip to Haiti and his unawareness of the conditions in a developing nation.
“When you see the people in the tent camps and in the shanty towns, it really affects you emotionally because [they are] so close to the U.S. and it’s just poverty everywhere.”
Similarly, Kunkle described his first trip and pointed out the basic environmental advantages in the U.S. that the people of Haiti don’t have access to.
“Just getting clean water is one of the main things you want to have,” said Kunkle.
Kunkle, having previous experience in places like Mexico and Mexico City, described Haiti’s poverty level as being on “a different level.”
Though the trips are five to six days long, the amount of work exerted by the students, professors and volunteers is relentless.
Karlyn Guirand-Emile, M.P.H, recent graduate of the University and editorial board member of IHC, has been visiting Haiti since 2010 with Martin, Kunkle and Melchior.
Once the team arrives in Haiti, they establish a temporary clinic for four to five days and usually see an average of 400 to 500 patients. They provide the patients with medicine, vitamins, education in health prevention, dietary assessments and primary care consultations.
Guirand-Emile said the team’s main focus is to treat children with stomach problems that are caused by the lack of clean water and, in turn, cause acid reflux disease and heartworms among the majority of the population.
“Something we commonly see is people with stomach problems because they don’t eat—they can’t,” stated Martin.
The last trip to Haiti was made in November 2011. The group is planning to return this summer. Despite their short trips and dedication, each and every member of this project has paid out of pocket in order to assist in the relief of Haiti.
IHC was founded in 2010 and just received its 501(c)(3) status. The editorial board members are currently working on grant writing and hope to gain donations in the near future to assist with the development of their organization.
The current plan is to develop a permanent location site in Haiti to continue their work.
“When you leave there, you don’t feel that you did enough,” stated Kunkle.
IHC is a socially responsible organization. Along with Haiti, there are developing sites in Peru and Bolivia.
Martin, Kunkle, Melchoir and Guirand-Emile all emphasize the intake of interest among all students of every major to get involved.
“This is not charity, it is social justice and everybody is responsible to give back.”
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