In Haiti, the mortality rate of infants less than one- year old is estimated at 74%. Every year in Haiti, 138,000 children under 5 years old die and 60% of those who survive do not develop well.
To help combat the healthcare problem, OSL opened a full-time medical clinic in Pont Sondé, Haiti, the birthplace of our founder, Dumas M. Siméus. The clinic’s focus is primary and preventive care, with the short-term objective of adding maternal and pre-and-post natal care to our services.
The clinic operates five days a week, employs 13 local residents, and treats approximately 600 patients a month. Patients are asked to contribute the equivalent of 30 U.S. cents for their medical care, although everyone receives treatment, regardless of their ability to pay.
Throughout the year, we are privileged to have the support of medical missions staffed by volunteer health care professionals from the U.S., Canada, Haiti and other countries. In addition to primary and preventive care medical practitioners, the clinic has also had the professional services of dentists, ophthalmologists, and optometrists. Our long-term plans include building an eye care facility to serve the poor in the Artibonite Valley.
“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.”
– Aesop
I would like to congratulate Mr. Siméus of the idea to implant this Medical Clinic to help the poorest of the poor. When I was hired to be the Doctor, I was very happy and think I am fortunate to be in this place to help these people. Every one of the staff who is working at the clinic is enjoying the job and really happy to give their contribution to help the patients. “We have the same determination to work for the patients and do whatever possible to take care of them when they need us; we hope to provide more services than what we offer now”, said Dr Yvette Angervil.
As a nurse working at the clinic since 2003, I am fortunate to be part of the people working for the poorest of the poor. We are working hard everyday to give the best we can and offer better care than the patients expect. “At the Simeus’ Clinic, we are happy for the quality of care we offer now to the patients and to pursue our goal, we are going to keep up the good care we are given to the less fortunate in Pont Sondé and the other area”, said the nurse Dyna Dorvilma Francois.
Dr. Juanita Day (Texas) and Dr. Frantz Large (Haiti) Consulate with a mother about her son’s eye problem.
Dr. May Parisien (New York) of the National Organization for the Advancement of Haitians (NOAH) examines a child during the June 2003 medical mission.
Members of the National Organization for the Advancement of Haitians (NOAH) medical mission team at The Siméus Foundation clinic in Pont-Sondé in June 2003.
Members of the National Organization for the Advancement of Haitians (NOAH) medical mission team at The Siméus Foundation clinic in Pont-Sondé in June 2003.
Michelle McBean, RN (Florida) of the National Organization for the Advancement of Haitians (NOAH) examines a child during the June 2003 medical mission.
Solemn young woman poses for a picture in Pont-Sondé.
Dr. Emmanual François (Maryland) a member of the National Organization for the Advancement of Haitians (NOAH) medical mission team.
Norma Ward, RN (Virginia) a member of the National Organization for the Advancement of Haitians (NOAH) medical mission team holds two children from Pont-Sondé.
Terrance Gan, MPH (California) a member of the Students for International Mission Service, Loma Linda University, enjoys shopping for souvenirs among the vendors at Moulin Sur Mer Hotel.
(Left to Right) Brian Dean Curran (former United States Ambassador to Haiti), Dumas M. Siméus, Mécène Siméus (Dumas’ father) and Paul Pollyx (former Mayor of Saint-Marc) stand in front of The Siméus Foundation clinic in Pont-Sondé.
Dina Julien carries water for her family in Pont-Sondé.
Dr. Juanita Day (Texas) examines a patient during eye care mission of October 2003
Dr. Eric Walsh (California) a member of the March 2003 Students for International Mission Service, Loma Linda University, examines a patient
Dr. Steven Wexler (Illinois) examines a patient during the October 2003 eye care mission
Dr. Steven Wexler (Illinois) checks a patient for glaucoma during the October 2003 eye care mission
Members of the October 2003 eye care mission team pose with children and staff at Eden’s Garden, an orphanage and school near Pont-Sondé
Gladys Bratton, RN (Texas) a member of the October 2003 mission team poses with a patient.
Dr. Carol Bowen (Pennsylvania) a member of the National Organization for the Advancement of Haitians (NOAH) medical mission team treats a dental patient
Dr. Joseph Baptiste (Maryland) Chairman & Founder of the National Organization for the Advancement of Haitians (NOAH) and a member of the June 2003 medical mission consults with a patient
Dr. Ketty Philogene (Virginia) a member of the National Organization fo the Advancement of Haitians (NOAH) medical missions team makes a house call for a woman too ill to come to the clinic.
Drinking contaminated water is one of the leading causes of death among children under the age of 5 in Haiti. Not having easy access to water prevents children from going to school and women from obtaining a small loan to start a business to support her family.
Sové Lavi has been working for the past 5 years to bring clean water to Haiti. To date, we have drilled 18 wells in conjunction with the Rotary Club, Ryan’s Wells and Hopital Albert Schweizer.
We are passionate about bringing clean water to the poor in Haiti. Please join us in saving lives with clean water
For more information about the clean water project, please contact Kimberly Simeus at: kimberlysimeus@yahoo.com
“For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace, and not for evil, to give you hope in the final outcome.”
– Jeremiah 29:11
Haiti’s literacy rate stands at only 42%. Dramatically improving literacy will be a cornerstone in Haiti’s turnaround in developing an educated workforce and a future generation of leaders.
Organisation Sové Lavisupports children in Haiti with educational scholarships.
For more information on how you can help us support education please contact Kimberly Siméus at: kimberlysimeus@yahoo.com
“Compassion is the basis of all morality.”
– Arthur Schopenhauer
Thirty-three percent of the Haitian population suffers from chronic malnutrition, as compared to 2% in the Dominican Republic, 3% in Honduras and 6% in Guatemala.
Organisation Sové Lavi routinely offers food and nutritional counseling. Additionally, clothing and shoes are distributed throughout the year.
“If you want others to be happy, practice compassion.
If you want to be happy, practice compassion.”
– The Dalai Lama
Children near Saint-Marc
Organisation Sové Lavi clinic in Pont-Sondé
Girls in Pont-Sondé near Organisation Sové Lavi clinic
Richy Saint-Fleur has neurofibromatosis. The Siméus Foundation brought him to the U.S. for treatment
Typical Haitian homes
Opening day at the Organisation Sové Lavi (ex Siméus Foundation) clinic in June 2002
Dr. Nonez Philippe, staff physician, consults with a patient
Dr. Rudy Moïse (Florida) a member of the National Organization for the Advancement of Haitians (NOAH) medical mission team consults with a patient
A member of the National Organization for the Advancement of Haitians (NOAH) medical team takes a patient’s blood pressure during clinic opening in June 2002.
Child in Pont-Sondé
Children in Pont-Sondé washing dishes
Children passing by Organisation Sové Lavi clinic in Pont-Sondé. The girls are carrying water in buckets home for their family’s daily use
Young man working in Artibonite Valley rice field
Children near Pont-Sondé returning from doing laundry in canal
Child in Pont-Sondé
Child in Pont-Sondé
Children in home near Saint-Marc
Children in Eden’s Garden Orphanage & School near Saint-Marc
Typical roadside scene on the way to Pont-Sondé
Typical roadside scene on the way to Pont-Sondé
Public transportation in Haiti. These privately owned and operated buses are known as tap-taps
Open air market in capital city of Port-au-Prince
Vendor cooking on corner in Port-au-Prince
Woman selling water door-to-door in Saint-Marc. She carries the bucket on her head. Each household provides a container – in the picture it is an old rum bottle –, which she fills for five goudes…a few pennies
Most people do not have electricity and still cook meals over charcoal as is seen in this picture. This picture was taken at a festival. Typically, the fire would be very small for one family so that only a small amount of charcoal would be required
