New Medical Clinic
Tax deductible donations can be made by check to and sent to the parish
office at St. Anthony Haiti Ministry
P.O. Box 3,
Morris, IN 47033
New Medical Clinic
Our big construction project right now is the new medical
clinic. Crews broke ground on the building in April. Despite
delays due to a rainy spring, they are making good progress.
Initial work included transporting materials to Gandou and
land prep. Now, they are beginning to lay the foundation.
clinic. Crews broke ground on the building in April. Despite
delays due to a rainy spring, they are making good progress.
Initial work included transporting materials to Gandou and
land prep. Now, they are beginning to lay the foundation.
Once completed, the new clinic will replace our small
two-room clinic. It will allow for patient privacy (currently
the waiting area, examination area, and nursing station are
all in the same 16x16ft room). It will also have running
water and electricity. There will be space for future
expansion including laboratory and imaging capabilities.
two-room clinic. It will allow for patient privacy (currently
the waiting area, examination area, and nursing station are
all in the same 16x16ft room). It will also have running
water and electricity. There will be space for future
expansion including laboratory and imaging capabilities.
Currently we have enough funding to complete the main
building. We are still seeking funds for additional things such
as solar paneling, finishing the courtyard, public latrines,
clinic furnishings, and painting. We continue to prioritize
our existing projects, so we ask that you not redirect your
regular giving to the clinic construction; however, if you
feel called to give above and beyond your regular support
of the Haiti Ministry, donations are greatly appreciated.
Here is a link to more photos.
building. We are still seeking funds for additional things such
as solar paneling, finishing the courtyard, public latrines,
clinic furnishings, and painting. We continue to prioritize
our existing projects, so we ask that you not redirect your
regular giving to the clinic construction; however, if you
feel called to give above and beyond your regular support
of the Haiti Ministry, donations are greatly appreciated.
Here is a link to more photos.
Tax deductible donations can be made by check to and sent to the parish
office at St. Anthony Haiti Ministry
P.O. Box 3,
Morris, IN 47033
Clinic Construction
April 2022 - Here are some of the challenges that have had to be overcome. In June 2022, just two months after breaking ground, an overturned truck blocked the only mountainous road to Gandou. There was no heavy equipment available to set it back up. Over several weeks, the people were able to dig the hillside away around the truck and eventually push it out of the way. During this time, building materials could only reach Gandou by foot or donkey. In September, gangs took control of the main fuel terminal in Port-au-Prince. For two months, fuel in the country was limited to gasoline brought in on the black market from the Dominican Republic. Finally in October construction had to stop on the clinic until the issue resolved at the end of November. A drought began in Haiti in January 2023 and lack of water slowed down the ability to mix concrete. Then in March construction had to halt completely for a month until the spring rains began. Move ahead to June and excess rains washed away a part of the road leading to another delay.
October 2022 - Alongside the construction challenges, the political instability created difficulties in getting the necessary medical equipment and furnishings for the clinic to Gandou. Many of the items we had hoped to purchase in Haiti have not been available, so we have had to ship these items from the United States instead. The medical clinic committee here worked hard to finding inexpensive or donated equipment to offset the unexpected expenses of shipping. For example, they were able to purchase four hospital beds on Facebook Marketplace at deeply discounted prices. One was purchased for $1 and was brand new because the family that originally purchase it never actually needed it. They were also able to obtain many other donated items from Dr. Welsh’s office, including exam tables and cabinets/shelving.
When we began seriously planning for the new medical clinic in June of 2021, we had no idea that the Haitian president would be assassinated the following month and the country would begin a two-year spiral of ever increasing political instability. By the time we broke ground in April 2022, gangs were beginning to control a significant portion of the capital city, Port-au-Prince. The combination of challenges that have arisen since then, both political and natural, could have stopped the construction altogether…but it didn’t. Amazingly we are in the final phase and anticipate a grand opening this fall.
April 2022 - Here are some of the challenges that have had to be overcome. In June 2022, just two months after breaking ground, an overturned truck blocked the only mountainous road to Gandou. There was no heavy equipment available to set it back up. Over several weeks, the people were able to dig the hillside away around the truck and eventually push it out of the way. During this time, building materials could only reach Gandou by foot or donkey. In September, gangs took control of the main fuel terminal in Port-au-Prince. For two months, fuel in the country was limited to gasoline brought in on the black market from the Dominican Republic. Finally in October construction had to stop on the clinic until the issue resolved at the end of November. A drought began in Haiti in January 2023 and lack of water slowed down the ability to mix concrete. Then in March construction had to halt completely for a month until the spring rains began. Move ahead to June and excess rains washed away a part of the road leading to another delay.
October 2022 - Alongside the construction challenges, the political instability created difficulties in getting the necessary medical equipment and furnishings for the clinic to Gandou. Many of the items we had hoped to purchase in Haiti have not been available, so we have had to ship these items from the United States instead. The medical clinic committee here worked hard to finding inexpensive or donated equipment to offset the unexpected expenses of shipping. For example, they were able to purchase four hospital beds on Facebook Marketplace at deeply discounted prices. One was purchased for $1 and was brand new because the family that originally purchase it never actually needed it. They were also able to obtain many other donated items from Dr. Welsh’s office, including exam tables and cabinets/shelving.
May 2023 - When considering all these challenges, it is truly amazing that the clinic is nearing completion. The dedication and hard work of the clinic committee here, the construction crew in Gandou, and our sister parish priest, Fr. Voltaire, has been truly inspiring. The generosity of our donors has also been incredible. The portion of the project as well as all the equipment necessary to operate the clinic have been fully funded. The remaining expenses are for additional clinic equipment that will take our clinic to a higher level. It will be a very rewarding day this fall when the doors to the clinic are finally open to the people of Gandou.