The Need: The community has no access to medical care beyond the services the ministry provides, and Gandou is a 5 to 6 hour walk to other medical care. Since 2006, the St. Anthony’s/St. Louis’ Haiti Ministry has completed twenty-six medical mission trips to Gandou. The most recent trip was in March, 2021, during which 937 patients were seen by the visiting medical staff with many more seeking care.
In June, 2021, the ministry hired a doctor who is now in Gandou five days a week, joining the nurses which the ministry employs. In addition to addressing acute patient needs, the doctor and staff run programs focused on child malnourishment, high blood pressure and diabetes. The ministry has also trained midwives to serve the community.
Today, the medical staff works out of a very small building (photo below) which existed prior to the founding of the ministry. The facility has minimal space for patient care or supplies. It also lacks electricity and running water.
A larger, better equipped clinic will:
- Provide the safe, clean space required to elevate the level of care regularly available in Gandou. H
ere is a newsletter - click to download.- Allow the medical staff to perform minor surgery and other procedures.
- Create the opportunity to bring specialty care (dental, eye, OB/GYN, other) to the community.
- Provide the space required to initiate health care education for the Gandou population.