On a Quest to Heal
“Papa, ki sa nap mange jodia?” (Father, what are we going to eat today) asked the little Haitian child walking alongside his father on the streets of Rue du Champs de Mars in Haiti. Undoubtedly the young boy had asked his father this question because he was hungry. Indeed, most of the poor in Haiti is always hungry. I was heartbroken to hear the boy’s depressing question. Distraught was I to have witnessed their poverty as evidenced by the raggedy clothes they modeled.
The foregoing encounter came about as a result of a weeklong family visit to Jean, our older cousin who lives in Haiti. On our second day there, he gave us a grand tour of the country. Belleville, meaning “beautiful city”, was where we began. It was like nothing I have ever seen before. The houses were extravagant and huge. Their architecture looked grand. Each house contained at least five or six bedrooms, two kitchens, and four bathrooms. The grounds were stunning. The lawns were well manicured with its bright green grass that was buttressed against an array of beautiful flowers and plants.
Our next stop was the town of Carrefour which is the third-largest city, by population, in Haiti. The contrast could not be greater. Just as one can say that the elegance of Belleville was unsurpassed; it was easy to observe that the town of Carrefour was stark. There was nothing there that lends itself to hope. In fact, I would describe the living conditions as mind-boggling. It was most depressing to witness the pervasiveness of poverty there.
The people lived in small villages that lacked electricity and clean water. Central plumbing was non-existent. The majority of the children in this town did not even attend school and the few that did travel long distances from home to get what little education that was available to them. Indeed, unlike the United States of America, public education is not a right but a privilege that few parents could afford.
Poverty in Haiti is pervasive. Nearly eighty percent of the population lives in poverty. There are a great number of people who live in slums where overcrowding and diseases are widespread. The average workers’ salary is a mere two dollars a day. The majority of the population isn’t able to pay for medical visits or even afford to go to the doctor’s office for a routine check-up. At this point, you must be totally disgusted as I am. But I digress.
Now I have returned home and as I sat on my comfortable couch, I ask myself in what way I can make a difference in the lives of the poor in Haiti. All my adult life I have been helping others. I have been volunteering at hospitals and nursing homes. Then suddenly it struck me like a bolt of lightning. I can be a part of an organization that renders medical assistance to countries in need. No, wait. I want to do more than that. I want to be immersed in the lives of these most unfortunate people. I believe that I can contribute best by becoming an acupuncturist. For many years, the people of Haiti practice natural medicine. They believe that the natural plants on earth are a better medicine compared to pharmaceuticals medications because God created the soil for the plants and it contains healing powers to heal the mind, body, and soul.
Moreover, it just takes one person to make a difference in somebody’s life and more can be done with large numbers. For example, there’s an organization called Acupuncturists Without Borders, which provides immediate disaster relief and recovery to countries that are in crisis resulting from a disaster or human conflict. This organization is devoted to creating alliances with local community-based organizations and treating all who have been affected - survivors, first responders, emergency personnel, and other care providers assist. In the event of the earthquake disaster in Haiti, Acupuncturists Without Borders were one of the organizations that travel to Haiti to treat individuals who suffered from trauma and stress from the devastating event. Local doctors observed their patients felt a sudden loss of hope due to the impacted of the earthquake. In these situations, acupuncturists can be one of the greatest supports. Once the people affected by this tragedy have water, shelter, food, and immediate medical attention, the need goes to the next critical step of mental, emotional, and spiritual care, along with ongoing physical care; this is where acupuncture comes into play. The treatments from acupuncturists can provide calm and quiet, hope, determination, and resiliency rise powerfully within it.
Many people may be shocked at the harsh poverty of Haiti, consider helping, perhaps donating dollars, and be appeased by the reflex action, and then gradually the shocking memories fade into oblivion. My love of oriental science has merged with a quiet, but intense desire to help others, especially those considered the “throw-a-ways” of planet earth, like those multitudes in Haiti. In my mind, oriental medicine studies are the most effective way to both realize my dream and satisfy a giant need. And along the way, I intend to build a wellness center in Haiti.
