Going the Extra Mile (or Several)

“We’ve admitted 15 malnourished children to our treatment programs since September. If we’d had to shut down, those kids would’ve been sent to the cemetery.”  

-Dr. Anany, Country Director 

One of those children is Paolo.  

In a small hut in the mountains of Leogane, three-year-old Paolo lives with his mom, dad, three sisters, and four brothers. Four weeks ago on a routine home visit, our monitrice Marie Lourdes discovered that Paolo was severely malnourished. 

Sadly, with the chaos in the country comes higher food prices, less work available, and more families going hungry. 

Marie Lourdes immediately made an appointment for Paolo at our closest ambulatory clinic, but with seven other children to care for, her husband out looking for work, and moto prices significantly increased, Paolo’s mother couldn’t get him there. 

Marie Lourdes stepped in and volunteered to take Paulo to his first appointment. She paid 400 gourdes for the ride out of her own pocket (for reference- more than half of all Haitians make less than 250 gourdes per day. Marie Lourdes will be reimbursed when she’s able to make it to our Leogane office) to get him to our ambulatory clinic where our nurse, Mismerique, was waiting.  

Mismerique, who's eight months pregnant, walks three to four kilometers through the mountains each day to staff our remote ambulatory clinics. She’s going on maternity leave on Friday, but she’s determined to keep treating children in her remote areas as long as she’s able.  

“Recently,” she says, “there are days where I wake up and I feel like I can’t do it. I can’t go to work. But I have to. If I don’t, children will suffer.” 

Mismerique in the mountains

Mismerique checking the progress of a patient at an ambulatory clinic

When Marie Lourdes arrived at the clinic with Paolo, Mismerique began his treatment, and the two women devised a treatment plan that works for the family.  

Marie Lourdes brings Paolo’s plumpy’nut to his house and checks his height, weight, and upper arm circumference once per week. 

But her investment doesn’t stop there. 

In addition to the weekly appointments, Marie Lourdes has been going to Paolo’s house to show his mother how to use the food they have in their garden and on their land to cook for the children. 

Our Community Programs Manager, Rose Elene, is heartened by the extra efforts of her field staff. “[Marie Lourdes] is doing great work. I’m very, very happy. She’s been going to Paolo’s mother’s house almost every day. When she arrives, Paolo’s mom gets to work collecting firewood, and Marie Lourdes shows her how to use what they have to make nutritious, balanced meals.” 

Marie Lourdes with Paolo after three weeks of treatment

After four appointments, Paolo has gained weight, and on Tuesday (10/29) he graduated from PTA to PNS, one step closer to graduating from our program entirely. 

We often praise our staff for exceeding expectations and going above and beyond to help children in need. With dozens of other children to check in on and several kilometers of hiking each day, Marie Lourdes doesn’t exactly have a lot of spare time on her hands. But she’ll do whatever it takes to fight for her most vulnerable neighbors.

Paolo after three weeks of treatment for severe acute malnutrition

After four weeks of treatment