Friday, November 19, 2010

Update from Phyllis Schmid

When I last wrote I had just returned home 2 days earlier than expected from La Pointe where I worked with Lois and the CEF instructors, due to the projected arrival of Hurricane Tomas. At that time the mission hospital at La Pointe, CMB, had seen 10 cases of cholera and they all survived. Apparently it was just the beginning . . .

Within days they were seeing many more patients with cholera and the hospital space soon became overwhelmed. Tents are set up to house all the patients and another organization supposedly is going to help set up a "tent city" in another section on the mission property to care for the cholera patients. Thus far the death rate there is less than 1% which is very good compared to many other places which are seeing as high as a 7.5% death rate. The hospital staff is exhausted but really pulling together to take care of the influx of patients. The House of Hope with 90+ children on the hospital grounds is taking very stringent precautions to keep the children safe and free from exposure. It has been expressed many times over that this problem is far from over. Pray for the medical staff's health and physical stamina. Pray for a strong witness to the sick and their families during this time. Pray for the Haitian people as this causes great fear and suspicion among people.

Port-au-Prince is beginning to see an increase in cases. People are being educated concerning the spread of the disease and how to combat it. But Haiti is a country without running water and good sanitation provisions for the vast majority of the population; so telling people to wash their hands frequently doesn't help. Today I saw a man washing his motorcycle tire in water running in the streets. Not sure where the water was coming from and also that he would be able to really wash his hands afterwards.

We haven't eaten a salad since this all started and fruit is looked at very cautiously for breaks in the skin and washed in Clorox water before it is peeled and eaten. A doctor gave an announcement on Sunday in our church service to explain precautions to the congregation. She did an excellent job but again not everyone has the means to protect themselves as desired.

A recent report David received stated: "The Ministry of Public Health (MSPP) reports the latest statistics on the cholera epidemic as 1,034 deaths and 16,799 hospitalized cases according to data collected up to 14 November." We also received the news that a Haitian arriving in Florida from Haiti was diagnosed with cholera.

We appreciate each one of you who has expressed your loving concern for us and the Haitian people over the 34+ years we've been here and especially this year since the earthquake and now a cholera epidemic. We Know Our God is Sovereign and is in Control. Please continue to keep this country and her people in your prayers.

The Presidential elections are scheduled for Sunday November 28th. STEP has canceled classes on Friday the 26th and Monday the 29th because of possible election violence. We've had increased gunfire in our neighborhood to the west. Some days there is nothing and others it is pretty active. Rumor has it that it is gang related. We appreciate your prayers for safety in this also.

As we all celebrate Thanksgiving may each of us look to our heavenly Father with hearts full of praise for His work in our lives whatever the circumstances are that we may be facing at this time.

Love to all,
Phyllis

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