Centre Médical Béraca - CMB Haiti

28/03/2023

Meet Kiki

You may never guess from looking at this picture but Kiki was in a coma for two weeks. He was rushed to our emergency room, having developed complications from cholera. He had been to another hospital and instead of improving, his condition kept worsening with each passing day and very quickly.

When he came to CMB, Kiki was severely dehydrated, his skin had lost all of its elasticity and his feet were swollen. Time was of the essence and the doctors worked quickly to stabilize him. Kiki was placed on intravenous fluids to replenish his body’s lost fluids.

For several days, he remained unconscious, battling the deadly infection. But Kiki proved to be a fighter. After several weeks of intensive treatment, he began to show signs of improvement. Slowly but surely, he regained consciousness. The hospital provided him with therapeutic food to help with his nutritional deficiency.

Kiki’s mom Isemène says Kiki is a living testimony! She recalls her neighbors thought he wouldn’t make it and went as far as to say if he recovered they would start following Christ like she does. Today, Kiki is back to his old self. He can talk, sit and stand on his own, and sing. His favorite food is fried chicken (or kwis poul as he likes to call it). He is excited to be going back home and did not want to stay at the hospital one minute longer than he had to.

Isemène thanks God that she was able to come to CMB in time and that the doctors and nurses took such good care of her son despite her inability to pay. She is thankful for the wonderful donors that helped them with their hospital bill. She prays that God continues to bless CMB.

While cholera and malnutrition remain a significant threat in Haiti, Kiki’s story proves that with timely treatment and appropriate care, even the most severe cases can be overcome.

23/01/2023

The Canadian Anesthesiologists’ Society, a member society of the World Federation of Societies of Anesthesiologists, awarded Dr. Alezandre Dauphin the Humanitarian Award in recognition of his “significant contribution to anesthesia beyond the bounds of routine practice, exemplifying altruism, integrity, and perseverance to improve equitable access to safe anesthesia care through advocacy, practice, or education.”

We would like to take a moment to celebrate and share with you this well-deserved win. Our most heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Dauphin!

29/12/2022

There is no life without light; the two are inextricably intertwined.
During Creation, life was introduced on earth when God spoke light into existence. Jesus, who himself is the Light and the Source of Light, came to earth to give us life.

Without His birth, we would be left with no light and no hope of life.

We at CMB, especially this year, truly resonate with how vital and amazing light is. It enables staff to carry out tasks, helps reduce stress, and illuminates corridors and courtyards.

Without light, our world is cold, dark, and lifeless.

As we celebrate the birth of Jesus this season, we give thanks for Him, the Unchanging Light.

We hope you let Him Bring His Light — And Life — Into Your Christmas!

27/11/2022

Keeping our doors open and lights on

GIVE TODAY: https://www.cmbhaiti.org/give?utm_campaign=c5ebf93e-d183-40ba-9d49-015ea1b7ac2f&utm_source=so&utm_medium=mail&cid=078f183f-48eb-4ddc-8c24-682551b36acd

Despite recent fuel shipments in some areas, the gas shortage endures. Through it all, we have remained open.

At the present moment, our fuel reserves are critically low. We have rationed electricity, explored alternative fuel sources, and added more solar panels to existing arrays.

The instability puts at risk our ability to continue our mission. It greatly increases the vulnerability of those we serve, challenges our daily operations, our purchasing efforts, and our logistics, and wears everyone out mentally.
Nonetheless, by God's grace, we are managing to keep health care available every day for the 700 000 people we serve in the Northwest.

Thankfully right now our different solar power units are able to power the maternity and emergency wards, the clinic, some surgical equipment, the administrative offices, the laboratory, and the pharmacy. But with no electrical power our well pumps, sterilizer, and X-ray machine cannot run, and internet-based communication is limited.

The threat of second cholera outbreak is heightening in the North and we are taking steps to operationalize the cholera center.

We are thankful for our very dedicated staff who continue to provide care even in the direst situations.
Whether you check in on us regularly, keep us in your prayers, donate funds to fill gaps or give the gift of your time and expertise, we are grateful for you!

30/09/2022

Special Update: CMB STANDS STRONG AS CRISIS DEEPENS

As many of you know, Haiti is in the downward spiral of a failed state. The situation has deteriorated into a full-blown humanitarian crisis: looting, roadblocks, violence, inflation.

No range of activity is left untouched. This crisis jeopardizes education, commerce, communications, transportation, safety, food security, water distribution, and of course healthcare delivery. Everything everywhere is paralyzed.

CMB generates its electric power using diesel generators. In the past few years a fuel shortage arises around this time. This year the fuel shortage is far worse and outrageously expensive. We are doing our best to reduce our fuel consumption though it is nearly impossible as we are currently the only healthcare center operational in the whole northwest department.

Patient consultations have significantly decreased whereas patient transfers to CMB for surgery and caesarean sections have increased in the last few weeks.

The safety of our staff is of primary concern. Thankfully we are able to accommodate on campus those who live out of town for the duration of their work shift schedule.

So far, we remain open and committed to providing compassionate care within the limitations of our circumstances to all who enter our doors.

08/09/2022

Rosemond, our longest-serving employee

CMB employee, Rosemond Fleur-Aime (Frè Roro), recently celebrated his retirement with the accolade of being our longest-serving employee. Amazingly, Rosemond has worked at the hospital for 48 years (1974- 2022).

He remembers working on his farm when Doctor (as Dr. Orius Paultre was called) sent word that he had a job for him at the then-dispensary. He started as a watchman for one of the hospital campuses then worked his way up to become head of security when that department was formed.

“I love my work at CMB. I always encourage my men to take their work seriously because our job is important. It also comes with its risks because people don’t want to follow rules and get mad when you try enforce them. But you must know when to say no and stand your ground. My advice for the younger men: Do your work well. Be on time. Respect your elders.”

Forty eight years (48) is an incredibly rare length of service and we made sure that his loyal and dedicated service was recognized. He is pictured on his final day being congratulated by the Leadership Council, fellow security guards, and other staff members.

We wish Frè Roro all the best in his retirement as he plans to spend more time at home with his wife who also worked as caregiver at House of Hope. Frè Roro looks forward to spending more time tending his gardens. He is also hoping to be able to travel more to go see his kids in the Bahamas.

Well done and congratulations, Frè Roro!

16/06/2022

CMB Mourns Death of Longtime Board Member, Renel Noel

We are shocked and saddened to announce the sudden and tragic death of our board member Mr. Renel Noel, who died following a boating accident early this week. The Board of Directors and leadership council and staff members of Centre Médical Béraca mourn his unfortunate death.

Renel has been a tireless supporter of CMB and continuously upheld our values of compassion and excellence. He has served for twelve years on the infrastructure and development committee. He championed sanitation reform at the hospital for the sake of our patients, which has been pivotal to our growth and development. His insights on the ongoing project for safe and stable electrical power at the hospital were extremely valuable. Renel was our designated shipping manager and donated much time and effort into assisting us with all of his heart.

We are especially thankful for the passion he carried in his heart for the community of La Pointe des Palmistes. Renel had a great impact on the 3 Christian ministries of UEBH at La Pointe, namely CMB, House of Hope, and Beraca Church; and he regularly traveled back to oversee the many projects in which he was involved. The extent of his influence is only equalled by his generosity. His passion was born out of his love for Christ who first loved him. Renel will be greatly missed!

We pray that his family members will experience God’s peace in their loss. We extend our deepest condolences to his friends at Miami Presbyterian Church, Friends of Humanity, and Rotary Club of Miami on this irreparable loss of a great humanitarian.

Alezandre Dauphin, MD
Chair of the Board
Centre Médical Béraca

15/05/2022

Célébrons nos infirmières!

Bonne journée internationale des infirmières!

Le Centre Médical Béraca profite de cette occasion pour rappeler à tous l'hommage qu'elles méritent et les remercier pour leur leadership et leur dévouement.

Nous sommes reconnaissants envers toutes nos infirmières surtout les pionnières qui ont tout commencé et celles qui continuent à suivre leurs traces en prodiguant des soins sécuritaires, compatissants et compétents.

Joignez-vous à nous pour célébrer le merveilleux travail que font les infirmières en toute situation pour assurer l'avenir des soins de santé & la santé dans le monde.

Remercions nos infirmières!

09/05/2022

Mother’s Day

Honoring and celebrating all mothers today and all month long and wishing them the greatest health and happiness

Mothers and mother-figures often serve as the backbone of communities all over the world. Being a mother entails considerable risks and requires great courage and sacrifice.

It is estimated that one of every 80 women in Haiti die from childbirth and pregnancy related causes---and we are determined to change that! Whether it be by providing recommended screenings, accessible information via the Moms Club, and risk-appropriate and cost-effective care at the maternity center, Centre Medical Beraca supports thousands of women every year through pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum.

Healthy communities cannot exist without healthy moms. Join us today in our fight to reduce maternal mortality in Haiti.
https://www.cmbhaiti.org/give?utm_campaign=eb0b33bb-aac4-4a77-9150-9a19cf3511d5&utm_source=so&utm_medium=mail&cid=078f183f-48eb-4ddc-8c24-682551b36acd

01/04/2022

New Clinic Progress Update

Your impact continues. With your help, we are moving closer every day to our goal of completing the new clinic construction. Not only are you helping with enhancing outpatient care at CMB, but you are also helping with job creation in the community. Your support matters!

Tiles have been laid and windows have been installed. Next steps are painting, final plumbing and electrical work. Thank you for joining us in reaching our goal!

29/03/2022

This month about 215 moms from the Moms' Club successfully completed the health education program offered by our community health program!

04/01/2022

New Year, Same Mission

New year marks a fresh start. New beginnings and new adventures. But at CMB, a new year means continuing on in our mission of offering compassionate and quality care to all who enter our doors. Only with more opportunities and greater hope! As we embark on this new year, all of us at CMB would like to thank you for being with us in this journey. Cheers to new milestones and more accomplishments! We wish you a wonderful year filled with God's blessings. Happy New Year 2022!

01/11/2021

🌎CHANGE THE NARRATIVE, CHANGE THE NATION
Reducing Preterm Mortality Rate

⚉ Alionso Avril is a respiratory therapist who lives with his wife and children in Pennsylvania. Sixteen years ago he moved to the U.S. from Haiti and had never been back until this past week. When he first heard about CMB from Dr. Jack Joseph, Alionso knew he wanted to support.

⚉ The two have been working together for about a decade at Ephrata Community Hospital. During this same time Dr. Joseph has made yearly visits to CMB during which he assesses the current needs and how best to help make our work easier. Over the years he has donated equipment, including a phototherapy unit and an adult CPAP machine. When he talked to Alionso about the need for pediatric CPAP, Alionso was more than happy to offer his expertise.

⚉ The leading cause of death in premature babies is respiratory distress syndrome. Treatment options are very limited here. According to World Data Atlas, in 2019 for every 1000 live births in Haiti, 25.3 of them resulted in death. Introducing bubble CPAP at CMB is a big step toward improving the survival rate of preterm infants.

⚉ Alionso not only raised funds to buy several bubble CPAP devices and two portable oxygen concentrators, but also trained part of the medical staff to use ventilators. The sessions were very lively and engaging, especially since he was able to interact in the mother tongue. He plans on volunteering regularly with us and cannot wait to be back. Alionso Avril says of his recent experience, “I have done a lot of good things in my life, but this is the best thing I’ve ever done.”

⚉ He wants to thank Dr. Joseph for his inspiration and his co-workers Roxanne and Jennifer for all their help and support. We thank God for partnership opportunities like these. Find here how you can take part in transforming the lives of families here in Northwest Haiti.

25/10/2021

06/10/2021

Hear from Baradina, who is on the ground everyday working with community leaders to advance healthcare in rural Haiti.
https://youtu.be/avxJVhIAL6g

CMB was founded in the 1940’s and now serves a population of 700,000+. Facilities like CMB are vital when only 8% of the the rural population has access to q...

01/10/2021

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

⚫Becoming an orthopedist means a lot to Isaac Archelus. Hearing the patients’ stories, seeing the joy on their faces, or giving them the ability to walk again ignites his passion. From a young age, he liked dealing with mechanical objects, fixing bits and pieces here and there. He also wanted to become a doctor. To be able to combine his love for all things mechanical with medicine is a dream come true for him.

⚫A native of Port-de-Paix, Isaac did his mandatory year-long hospital training at CMB after graduating from medical school in Port au Prince. He was selected to be part of our scholarship program and is now pursuing a degree in general orthopedics at the state university in Port au Prince. He is in his third year and conducting research in pediatric supracondylar humerus arm fractures as they are one of the most common injuries in children.

⚫There are no orthopedists in Northwest Haiti and only one pediatric orthopedist in the whole country. This is a great responsibility for anyone and Dr. Archelus hopes he can step up to it. He had the opportunity to do some volunteer work with Hope Walks, an organization that provides low-cost prosthetic legs and helps international communities develop prosthetic training programs, which Isaac hopes to replicate at House of Hope.

⚫Just a few months ago he ran into a patient for whom he had helped with reconstructive tibial surgery. The patient had recovered so well and could even walk again. It brought him so much joy to see how far along the man had come in his recovery journey.

⚫Dr. Isaac Archelus is excited to complete his residency and to come back to CMB. He is grateful for each and every one of our donors who support the scholarship program and allow him to make a difference in people’s lives every day.

20/09/2021

Bridging the Gap

🔵 Dr. David Paultre’s dream was to become a missionary. He is the great-grand nephew of Dr. Orius Paultre, the pioneer and primary care physician of Beraca for many years. Stories David heard from the missionaries of Bato Logos (a missionary ship that would come for weeks at a time into the port of Haiti’s capital city) greatly inspired him.

🔵As he grew up, his interests broadened. He became passionate about music and wanted to follow in his dad’s footsteps in becoming a great musician. He also had a strong desire to study biology. Ultimately, he went to medical school and obtained a degree from University Lumière in Port-au-Prince.

🔵During clinical rotations, David met an attending physician who became his mentor. David would trail behind him to do X-rays. Initially unsure about specialization, he knew he absolutely wanted to explore medical imaging.

🔵Upon graduating from med school Dr. Paultre joined CMB’s staff and started working in the ER. A few months later he was selected for a scholarship and started a 1-year certificate program for sonography in August 2019. His class was small with only 5 students, which meant more one-on-one attention from instructors and more hands-on learning.

🔵We are happy to have him return to the CMB team. What he loves about CMB is that everyone is welcomed, and the rooms and yard are clean. He hopes one day we are able to become a teaching hospital again and that an ENT department can be added.

🔵Dr. David would like to thank all the donors who continue to give to the scholarship fund and in turn invest in the present and future of CMB. He hopes one day he can obtain training in echocardiography.

🔵David is still very passionate about music and Jesus. In his free time he can be found playing his bass guitar and creating tutorials on YouTube.

🔴SUPPORT THESE EFFORTS: https://www.cmbhaiti.org/give

01/09/2021

On Our Knees

By now, you have probably heard the news about Haiti’s most recent disaster-or disasters I should say. On Saturday August 14th, a 7.2 earthquake hit the southern peninsula of Haiti, killing over two thousand and injuring and displacing thousands more.

A few days later that same area was hit with a tropical storm, further hampering the delivery of aid. Care was delayed for several days because the conditions were too challenging. Aftershocks continued making buildings even more dangerous, complicating mobile care spaces. Transport could not be secured because of inaccessible roads and bridges, isolating communities. Storm hazards-and security threat groups-hindered the first responders in their efforts to provide relief.

Like the prime minister said, “Haiti is on its knees.” Truth is, it is and has been for a long while now, crawling from crisis to crisis. Political instability, civil unrest, natural disasters, epidemics, economic collapse. And these catastrophes always seem to come in pairs like the current situation. The country’s location makes it prone to earthquakes and hurricanes. Lack of public information and awareness, limited preparedness measures, low economic security and poor construction practices also add to its vulnerabilities.

So I ask: “Is there really light at the end of the tunnel?” “How much more resilience is there left in us Haitians?” “Isn’t there a limit to how much worse a situation can get?” It’s easy to fall into despair as we endure one striking blow after another. These difficulties make it easy to lose perspective. It can seem like a breakthrough is a long time coming.

But I refuse to believe that God has forsaken us. When I reflect on all the times in the past when we thought all hope was lost and He showed up and reminded us of who He is, how could we ever forget his faithfulness through the ages?! May we always remember that God is a very present help in trouble, God is all-powerful, and God is Jehovah-Jireh.

As the saying goes, “When life brings us to our knees we’re in the perfect position to pray.” So I pray that help will reach everyone affected by the quake and storm. I pray for everyone in Haiti right now who feels sad, angry, lost, unseen, unheard, tired, helpless, abandoned, hopeless, frustrated, unsafe, forgotten, alone, desperate. I pray we get back up on our feet soon. -Written by Baradina Garçon