The starfish story

Did you ever hear the parable about the starfish? How the man is walking along the beech throwing o e our of hundreds of starfish back into the ocean at a time, and he is asked the question “Why bother, there are just too many of them?”
And he answers “Yes, as he throws one back into the sea, it means everything to this one.”

Trip to Gonaives in 2 weeks

Our January trip is about to commence. We will be taking a team of 29 people to Haiti leaving on the 14th and returning on the 22nd of January.

There will be two teams, primary care and surgical, and an advanced party (next week) to repair the portable x-ray machine at the hospital and install a digital film processor and get everything ready prior to the arrival of the main team.

We plan on doing orthopedic and general surgeries at the hospital, while seeing primary care patients at our new clinic with our Haitian doctor and nurse counterparts, as well as at outlying rural areas, where we will hold mobile clinics.

Glad to see everyone on board!

Jim, H4H

P.S. We sure could use a grant writer to get funding to keep the clinic going!

South Korean firm moves to build plant in Haiti

From: Sandra Mignot sandramignot1@gmail.com

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505244_162-57332583/south-korean-firm-moves-to-build-plant-in-haiti/

South Korean firm moves to build plant in Haiti
Associated Press – November 28, 2011

CARACOL, Haiti The biggest international project aimed at helping
Haiti rebound from the 2010 earthquake eased closer to reality at a
ceremony Monday.

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton and Haitian President Michel
Martelly broke ground for an ambitious $224 million industrial park in
northern Haiti that they hope will generate tens of thousands of jobs,
house 5,000 of the workers and educate 500 of their children in a new
school.

Those involved hope the South Korean garment manufacturer Sae-A
Trading Co. Ltd. will set an example and urge other foreign businesses
to invest in Haiti, a country long ignored by outsiders because of its
cumbersome laws, heaps of red tape and occasional political tumult.

“Investors still do not believe or understand the value and potential
of Haiti as we do,” Kim Woong-ki, chairman of Sae-A, said through an
interpreter in the northern town of Caracol. “Let’s open this closed
door and mind set toward Haiti and highlight the true value and
potential of Haiti.”

The project on the 617-acre (250-hectare) site was in the works long
before the January 2010 earthquake but became a priority after Clinton
was named the United Nations’ special envoy for Haiti in 2009 and
given responsibility for spurring private investment.

On the eve of the quake’s first anniversary, the Haitian government
and Sae-A signed an agreement to create the industrial park, which
will export clothing to the United States. Among the company’s 20
existing factories are plants in Nicaragua, Guatemala, Indonesia and
Vietnam.

The United States has provided $120 million for generating
electricity, housing for workers and improvements to a port in the
north. The Inter-American Development Bank will provide $50 million
for building factory shells and infrastructure.

The Caracol industrial park is intended to be Haiti’s largest private
employer, with a goal of providing 20,000 jobs at the park and
creating 133,000 in all through cottage industries.

The first T-shirts are scheduled be made in May or June of next year.

“This is the kind of change we need,” Martelly said from a stage
surrounded by bulldozers and other heavy machinery. “This is the kind
of development we need.”

Workers will be paid Haiti’s minimum wage, which is $5 a day, and will
be eligible for bonuses based on performance.

Clinton said the industrial park will eventually improve the lives of
about 500,000 people as the complex brings in other tenants and small
businesses emerge around the plant.

Thirty percent of Sae-A’s jobs will be set aside for women.

Nella Felix hopes to be among them. She’s a sometime street vendor who
makes up the 60 percent of the population that makes about $2 a day.

“For me, it’s a real way for the youth of the community to live, to
find jobs and work,” Felix, 42, said after the ceremony. “I’m waiting
to see what they can do for us.”

Critics of the industrial park argue that Haiti would be better off
investing money in its long-neglected agriculture sector instead of
the garment sector, which has stumbled along because of sporadic
political upheaval.

Rudy Boulos, a business leader and former senator for the region,
acknowledged the shortcomings but said the thousands of jobs will
stimulate the area’s economy, allowing parents to send their children
to school.

“I don’t think an industrial plant is the best way to create jobs,”
Boulos said before the ceremony started. “But it’s a beginning. It’s a
first step to being self-sufficient.”

Separately, Clinton and Martelly announced Monday that the Digicel
phone company will help build a $45 million, 173-room hotel with
Marriott International. The new franchise is expected to create 175
jobs.

Construction is expected to begin next year in Turgeau, one of the few
middle-class neighborhoods in Port-au-Prince proper. Opening is
scheduled for mid-2014.

Health4haiti coffee now available either on RoastE.com or on Health4haiti.com

Our new delicious Haitian-grown coffee (roasted right here in Pueblo, Colorado) is now available on line!

These highly sought-after Haitian beans have been grown in Haiti for centuries, and used to be the world’s largest source of coffee. It’s sister Jamaican Blue Mountain bean has been acclaimed and avidly pursued by coffee lovers for years.

We at Health4haiti are importing these historic and original beans (in their purest form – isolated in a “time capsule” environment for centuries). Solar Roast in Pueblo has agreed to roast and package them for us (either whole bean or ground, bold or mild roast), and they sell it in their store as well. Our proceeds go to our non- profit organization and are returned to Haiti in the form of medical services and infrastructure.

Or, order this delicious coffee on line today from us directly at Health4haiti.com, or through RoastE.com

Dr Jim

January trip Information meeting

We will be having an informational meeting for all those interested in coming along on our January 14th through 22nd mission trip to Haiti on next Sunday, November 13th at 3:00 pm in Pueblo.

Any one who is interested in finding out more about the trip is invited and welcome to attend this informal get-together.

For the location call us at 719-561-4300 or email us at health4haiti@gmail.com

Dr Jim

Fundraiser a success!

Thanks to all our fundraiser was a huge success. We think we raised enough money to meet our obligations to the new clinic, bring much needed donated medical EQ to the hospital, and buy medicines, etc. for another year.

Artist Ed Posa painted a live painting during the evening, which we auctioned off in the auction. Russell Parks performed magic tricks, the auctioneer, Derek Reeves, kept the crowd entertained and on the edge of their seats and put his all into raising money for our work.

Next trip is in January, 14th through the 22nd. We are in full swing planning mode now. There will be a meeting at our house for those who want to come on Sunday November 13th. Cost of the trip is $1800, which includes airfare. Next trip will be in June (9th or the 16th).
Stay tuned for exact dates! Start recruiting sponsors now or sell some coffee!

Dr Jim

Sorry about Linked In intrusions!

Dear readers,

I am so sorry about the intrusions on this blog by Linked In. I have tried to Get rid of them multiple times. I have tried to ask Linked In but they don’t respond. So I take them off when they appear. Please bear with me. I will keep trying!

Dr Jim

New Gonaives Clinic – Organized!

Carrie and her team did an amazing job last week putting the new container’s worth of supplies and equipment in order and bonding with the new clinic doctor, nurses, and staff.

Don’t forget, the 4th annual fundraiser is next Saturday, the 22nd at CSU – Pueblo ballroom.

Jim

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January trip coming, January 13 – 22, 2012

Now that we are back from our clinic organizing and check-up trip we have a good list of things to do for our January Medical Trip.

We need to get the laboratory and x-ray machine for the clinic operational! This will be crucial to the clinic’s becoming eventually self-sufficient financially. In order to do this, the following must happen:

Find a microscope and electrolyte analyzer
Run 220 volt line to clinic for the x-ray machine

We will be bringing full medical and surgical teams to help see patients in the clinic, do outlying clinics, surgery at the hospital, etc.

Many people want to come (GREAT!). Get your slot early to come!

Dr J

Fundraiser almost here!

Our 4th annual fundraiser dinner and auction will be Saturday, October 22nd, at CSU-Pueblo. We are busy selling tickets and tables, receiving and preparing auction and silent auction items, and FINDING an auctioneer!

It is promising to be a very fun evening, with Magic, Fun, Door Prizes, and lots of Haitian metal art and other items available.

Call Carrie at 719-561-4300 to buy (or sell!) a ticket or two.