Plop Plop

So we learned a little slang today! Plop Plop mean hurry up or move quickly. Creole has a sort of melody to it like French, except it's just different enough so I barely understand one word :). Today we worked at the newest clinic that is being built by the people of St. Damien's. It's name will be St. Mary's when complete. While the clinic is being built, patients are being seen in a sturdy medical tent which is pictured below.

Cite Soleil is fairly indescribable and I'm not sure I've fully absorbed the level of poverty and dire need we saw today. We drove through the area and as we headed towards the water, the housing materials went from tin cardboard. Closer to the water there are no houses, except for a few shacks where pigs are kept. Trash litters the entire area. There is no sewage system or running water. It is an incredibly humbling site especially knowing that some people spend their entire lives there.

After spending 30 minutes setting up our clinic, Dr. Bill began seeing patients. He examined people on as they sat in a plastic chair. If he needed to do a deeper examination, the patient was put on one of two mattresses we had in the tent. There were many skin ailments and stomach problems. We saw a few cases of TB and one case of was Cholera. (Don't worry Mom, we were all very careful and sanitary).

Sergio saw all of the trauma and wounds that came in. One woman came in with a wound from a knife fight and luckily it wasn't infected. Kristen, Will and I assisted him as he cleaned the wound.

All in all it was a very intense, but productive day. We will be heading back to the St. Mary's clinic tomorrow.