Top: Ajan Sante Jean Reluse (far left in green) and the rest of the Bouloum Health Committee at their new Community Health Center; Bottom Left: Bouloum residents celebrate at the opening; Bottom Right: Dr. Cassesus addresses the crowd before the mobile clinic begins.
After months of discussion, planning, and training, our fourth Community Health Center (CHC) is finally open in the outlying village of Bouloum! The opening day started with a presentation by our Clinic Director, Dr. Casseus, in which he explained the CHC's main function: to serve as a location where Bouloum residents can find basic first aid, health education, and disease prevention resources (such as Bon Sel and Klorfasil). In honor of the opening, a Klinik Mobil was held, where approximately 65 patients were seen, and a feast of delicious Haitian food then followed.
The opening at Bouloum was a particularly joyous occasion for several reasons. The first cause for celebration is that Jean Reluse, who will serve as Bouloum's Community Health Worker, or 'Ajan Sante', is incredibly devoted to his role. Before training to become an Ajan Sante, Jean Reluse had been Bouloum's school principal, and had no background in the health professions. Motivated to learn everything he could for his new work, Jean Reluse showed admirable dedication throughout his 3 months of training at the clinic and with Zanmi Lasante (Partners in Health). Even after the final patient left the clinic each day, he could be found sitting outside the clinic guest house where he resided, diligently studying his Ajan Sante handbook in the dwindling daylight (as shown at right).
Another reason we are excited about CHC Bouloum is that the Bouloum Health Committee is extremely enthusiastic about their involvement. Already, the committee has been very actively selling Klorfasil systems, and sold 90 systems in a month, before the health center had even opened. At left, members of the Bouloum Health Committee attentively practice using the Klorfasil system.
Finally, we and the rest of the community celebrate the opening of CHC Bouloum because Bouloum is an especially remote area that will greatly benefit from the presence of a CHC. The route to Bouloum is extremely long and rugged, even when compared with Haiti's notoriously rough roads. This remoteness can be illustrated well by our personal experiences venturing to Bouloum. During one visit in July our car became stuck in the mud for over 3 hours and ultimately had to be pulled out by a pair of bulls (pictured above). Even in good weather, the drive takes at least 45 minutes. Needless to say, accessing healthcare is a significant challenge for the residents of Bouloum. The demand for healthcare in this community was clear when we held a Klinik Mobil there in June and saw over 110 patients in one day, far more than are seen at a typical Klinik Mobil. Although the journey to Bouloum can be difficult, engaging with this highly motivated and deserving community is certainly worth the trip.
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