Mobile Lab

*At the "lab" in Carrefour

I admit, I was hesitant to celebrate. We've been through a couple of lab technicians over the last 6 months who came, looked confused and left before the microscope could get warmed up. So when someone seemingly perfect showed up for the job, I sat back and watched for a bit. She asked for all the right reagents, trained quickly in materials she wasn't used to, and didn't so much blink at lack of electricity or running water. We've compared findings over slides and shaken hands in agreement.

I think (pray) Everose is here to stay. She's reported for duty faithfully for 7 weeks now, showing up two days a week at CONASPEH and one day a week at Carrefour. She has even offered to travel with us on mobile clinic rides if deemed helpful. When our lab doesn't have what a patient needs, she refers easily and helps follow up with patients.

*mobile lab powered by a small solar panel

She's a kind, easy-going woman who takes initiative, has taken ownership of the lab and works cleanly, efficiently and for very little money. She makes due with the roughest of circumstances and still manages to make a well-stained slide and follow hygienic precautions. Miss Fanor and I find her an excellent addition to our team, and our clinic has suddenly broadened dramatically in outreach and capabilities. My own therapeutic strategies have thankfully become less shoot-from-the-hip and now have a touch more diagnostic back up which I am thrilled about.

The community is catching wind of her presence and already her lab is filling with people not only referred by me, but who come in with orders from other doctors in clinics nearby. After only a few weeks, she is now fielding a constant stream of patients of all ages waiting with veins exposed, urine and stool samples ready.

*At work in the CONASPEH lab space

So in this season of celebration, I give thanks for two more hands taking part in the effort. Our clinic has dramatically broadened in outreach with her presence. In the true spirit of Haiti, once again what once seemed impossible is well underway.