Jhpiego Team Arrives in Santo Domingo, En Route to Haiti
As the American Airlines flight took off from Puerto Rico, the pilot made an announcement in Spanish. “He thanked everyone who was heading to Haiti,” said Rich Lamporte, the lead member of Jhpiego’s 3-person team who were on board the 737, “and everybody in the plane clapped.”
Lamporte, along with OB/GYN Willy Shasha and program manager Anne Pfitzer, left BWI – Thurgood Marshall airport at 8am Wednesday morning. They stopped in Puerto Rico where they were joined on the plane by about 25 health care professionals, who also were headed to Haiti. The Jhpiego team had started their day before dawn, making last minute preparations to join their Haitian colleagues in Port-au-Prince and determine the best way to ensure the health care needs of pregnant women, newborns and children are met. This was after only having about 2 hours sleep each last night because of packing, emailing, and making final arrangements.
They arrived in the Dominican Republic midday with plans to spend the night and finalize passage for the trip to Port-au-Prince – commonly referred to by international aid workers now as PAP.
As the plane landed in the sweltering humidity and heat, the Jhpiego team felt a sense of relief – and anticipation.
The group of Puerto Rican doctors and nurses that joined the flight in San Juan were shepherded through immigration. “They were hopping on a bus and planned to stay in a church in Port-au-Prince and start providing services”, said Lamporte.
The Jhpiego team was hauling overstuffed excess luggage filled with food, water purification tablets, clothes, tents and basic medical supplies. Other flight passengers had been kind enough to share their baggage allotment with them. Lamporte and his colleagues passed through customs without a hitch and got into a cab for the ride to a local hotel.
“In talking with the taxi driver, we asked about Santo Domingans’ feelings about Haiti. He said they were supportive. Their trauma center is overwhelmed. He did say there seems to be a pretty heavy movement of people until yesterday and it’s starting to slack off a bit. His company was transporting people from International Medical Corps, charging $500 a car to go to Port –au-Prince.”
Jhpiego’s team got off relatively cheap -- $50 for all three to go to the hotel.
“We’re glad to be here and anxious to meet with Lucito (Jeannis),” Haiti’s Country Director in Port-au-Prince, Lamporte said by telephone. “We want to get down to work, get to the local team and make sure they are in good shape so we can all participate in the recovery. “
“My wife said, ‘Don’t call me until you have a moment to breathe,” said Lamporte.“ Of course, I’m not sure when that might be….”
But first things first: a cold beer, a meal, shower and then some sleep. They all recognize it may be their last for awhile.
|
