In a world where access to health care is limited to a few, J/P HRO Medical Program recently concluded a 10 day Vaccination Campaign held at both of our clinics, JP1 and JP2, providing free vaccines to the Delmas community.
Two months after launching a vaccination program in both facilities to complement our current medical care services, the Ministry of Health in Haiti, Ministère de la Santè Publiqueet de la Population (MSPP), selected J/P HRO's Medical Program as one of the facilities to open the Worldwide Vaccination Campaign for the year 2012.
On a rainy morning, Keziah, a communications team member, and I visited JP1 to speak with the staff and some patients. "It is an honor to have been selected by MSPP because it's something that happens not yearly, but only once in a while and they picked JP for the first time," said Dominique Valentin, Medical Education Manager. She added that it is positive sign for both our program because J/P is a newcomer in the field, and it shows that we have been accepted as an integral part of the health system in Haiti.
The J/P HRO medical team launched the campaign on April 21st and it ended on May 2nd. With the hope of eradicating some common diseases in Haiti, they gave vaccines for measles, polio, and rubella, to 1,335 children ranging from ages 0 to 9 years old. They also gave Vitamin A and Albendazole. Dominique stated that vaccination is primary care, and as an organization we believe that all patients should receive the benefits of primary care services.
Under the tent waiting on a bench, I saw Isnelle Jean, 25, a mother of a three-year old boy, who lives at the Petion-Ville camp. She brought her son, Fadle, to get vaccinated for the first time. She said she came to J/P HRO because she realized that getting these vaccines would protect her child's health against preventable diseases like polio and measles. Isnelle said that she really likes coming to J/P HRO for her medical problems because she always gets great services.
At J/P HRO we are so grateful to everyone who supports us financially. It is through generous donations that we are able to provide these services free of charge to vulnerable communities. Please visit us at www.jphro.org to find out more about our programs and how you can support our efforts.
-Vanessa Short
