Letter From Founder

Dear Friend,

Let me begin by thanking you for helping to build and maintain the FCLH Hospital of Lascahobas which has provided so many years of health care for the people. After I started its construction with my own money, you responded generously to my appeal for help.

Over the years, as it became too expensive to run a fully staffed hospital, we sought a sponsor who could operate it at full capacity and consistent with local needs. We have now been able to donate the FCLH Hospital to the Catholic Church of Haiti. In this way, the people of Lascahobas will be able to receive ongoing health care in a fully operational hospital.

The Medical Team

Ophthalmologists and other volunteers will continue the annual eye-care program. Started by Dr. John P. Mitchell in 1982, and currently led by Dr. Kenneth C. Westfield since 2002 with the help of his colleague Dr. Tyree Carr. Dr. Westfield brings his own personnel and equipment in order to provide the best service to the patients.

Dr. Butler Jean-Louis of New Jersey has been with the team since 1983. Juliette Casimir RN of New York is a regular team member. My son, Gary, an electrical engineer is responsible for making sure the electrical systems are running smoothly and records the patients history and/or performs a preliminary eye chart exam. My daughter, Danielle, a Radiology Tech and my nephew Calixte Jean Pierre, a transportation engineer distribute the prescribed eyeglasses.

Now 3 more nieces have joined the medical team: Benita Simmons a registered dietician, Nina Simmons a physical therapist, and Hildegarde Payne RN. They serve wherever needed and act as translators. Members of the team usually are from Las Vegas, NV, Washington, DC, New York and New Jersey.

Team 2009 saw over 600 patients, performed 67 surgeries and distributed 350 pairs of glasses. See Team 2009.

History of the Hospital of Laschobas

So many caring people made this possible that I hesitate to name any because I don’t want to omit anyone. The reality is that some friends of FCLH must be named.

They include Jude St. Phard, a NY-licensed electrician, ordered all the electrical equipment for us; he went to Lascahobas, supervised the work, and installed the 70-Kilowatt gas diesel generator that ensured uninterrupted power for surgery and other critical functions.

James Lewis DDS donated his complete dental clinic. Many others gave hospital beds, operating tables, delivery room tables, OR lamps, file cabinets, furniture, sheets, and so on.

I had purchased everything for the laboratory including pediatric beds, and cribs for newborns with my credit card. After we had everything we needed, an angel – the Rev. Odell Odum, picked up all of the supplies from New Jersey, Manhattan, and Brooklyn and delivered it to the shipping company – free of charge.

Despite a discount for shipping, I had to call FCLH members and friends for added contributions to pay for shipping one 20-foot and two 40-foot containers to Haiti. A friend lent us the money she had saved to pay the water and real estate taxes for her house. She said, “Late fees aside, the hospital is more important.”

No longer responsible for the hospital we can devote all our time to help the children.

Akamil Program

We have started the Akamil project to alleviate the malnutrition. Akamil is a protein rich nutritional supplement of combined dried rice/or corn and beans ground to an easily stored mixture.

The Cooperative Economic Group (CEG) project contains 31 groups for a total of 809 mothers with 2,927 children. They are our primary source of distribution for the Akamil to the rural areas. We show them how to prepare the Akamil. The mothers are very excited about the program. They have a good source of nutrition for their children.

We have a 10 Kilowatt diesel generator and a powerful grinding mill that produces the Akamil. The rice and beans are purchased in Haiti in order to avoid the high shipping costs.

Some mothers that do not belong to the CEG project have asked for help to send their children to school. One donor asks that we use his money in this way. So we now pay for 4 children in preschool and 3 in first grade.

As you know, the poor have no voice. They only depend on the organization. Please continue your support. Thank you.

Sincerely yours,

FCLH Founder and President