Hispañola Health Partners: Weeds and deeds

Bon nwit, zanmi yo. As promised in my last blog, I will write a little about datura stratmonium, also known as jimson weed, and other neurotoxins called tetrodotoxins, used in the process of zombification. Wade Davis, in his book The Serpent and the Rainbow, cites the case of the famous zombie, Clairius Narcisse.

Clairius on his way to his not so final resting place

Mr. Narcisse, born in 1922, was not well-loved in his community; along with being a womanizer, having children with at least 5 different women, he also was involved in a nasty land ownership dispute with his brother. He quickly and mysteriously took sick and was declared dead by 3 well-respected doctors from the Albert Schweitzer Hospital here, and buried on May 2, 1962. He appeared back in his village 18 years later, much to the surprise of his family and neighbors, who all recognized him at once. Apparently someone (his brother?) had hired a bokor, or vodou priest, to make a mixture of human bones, plants with stinging spines and the bacteria that is commonly found on a pufferfish (watch out, sushi lovers). This mixture was secretly applied to a skin abrasion of his, inducing a coma which mimicked death. A few days later he was exhumed and force fed a mixture of datura, cane syrup and sweet potato which made him loose his memory and hallucinate. The regular ingestion of this formula kept him compliant while he worked in the cane fields. When his master suddenly died after 2 years, Clairius was free to roam the countryside, which he did for 16 years, until the effects of datura faded enough for him discover that his brother had died and eventually find his way home.

Now and then I pass a group of blank-faced field workers in black rubber boots and hoes in hand, all working robotically in a row under the blazing hot sun.

meetings, meetings, meetings

My final week here in Haiti found me transversing the country - I should work for the highway dept here and file a report - 5 of us took motos and a jeep for 11 hours from Anse-a-Pitres to Jacmel to meet with the head of the Ministry of Health for a meeting that never came to be. However, we powered on and spent 4 productive days in Marjofre, gathering with the local folks, discussing administrative issues with our Haitian partners, talking over the final floor plans for how we will divide up the space - patient waiting area outside on the porch and under a palm shaded front yard, 2 consultation rooms, a little ER, pharmacy, lab, maternity, a bathroom and administration. All in about 800 square feet.

Jeanne talking about cervical screening on our clinic porch

This month we did 105 cervical screenings in 4 different towns, making our total count in the last year 575. Jeanne is now in charge of continuing the screenings and teaching staff. Many thanks to the donors for this project. We will be bringing the trainings to the southeastern towns of Belle Anse and Thiotte in the next year.

Our team - Hispañola Health Partners - Patnè Sante Ispanyola

We have raised about a third of the $12,000 we need to finish the clinic, as we wait for 501 (c) 3 status, please write me at llindenmeyr@gmail.com to find out how you can make a tax-deductible donation now. Our new, improved website will be up and running in a few weeks - I'll be in touch. Our motto, created by the founder of the clinic, Fritz Regis (last guy on the left) is:

LOVE PEOPLE