Help Age Canada

Sainte Therese de L'Enfant Parish, Gaspard, Haiti

Written by Melinda Neufeld Friday, 15 April 2011 20:12

Recently, we successfully established contact with Father Phechner Julmisse in Gaspard, Haiti. He oversees a small number of Grans sponsored through the Adopt-A-Gran program. Gaspard has been greatly affected by the cholera outbreak and Father Julmisse reported on the current situation.

"We are all alone now." Father Julmisse repeated this again and again as he described the current situation in Gaspard, Haiti, and that of the Grans living at the residence there. Earlier this year, workers from the organization Doctors Without Borders visited the small town, bringing medicine and materials to treat Haitians suffering from cholera. While the workers were there, the rate of cholera outbreaks went down significantly. However, since these workers have left, and in addition to the heavy rain fall, the number of cholera cases has started to increase once again around town. "The workers are gone and we are left responsible for everything", Father Julmisse reports regarding the difficult situation. There is a real sense of abandonment and isolation. Father Julmisse has the responsibility to help, but he feels alone and poorly equipped. The Grans and Haitians living in Gaspard lack the basic necessities to survive, including sources of food and water. There is a shortage of chlorination tablets to disinfect the water needed for drinking and hygiene purposes. Father Julmisse explained that, he and his staff have no source of materials to give the Grans to help improve their living conditions. The staff at the Sainte Therese de L'Enfant Parish is small in number; there are three workers who supervise the Grans, including one hygienist who looks after their health. This job is very difficult since there is very little, if any, disinfected water and medical supplies.

Despite the extremely difficult situation, Father Julmisse remains positive and reported that he and the Grans are all fine. Easter is quickly approaching and they are planning a special activity for the Grans, which will likely include a special meal and Mass. The Grans participate in activities on a regular basis; some activities include playing games together, going to Mass, having breakfast together and attending group gatherings where they eat together and offer the Grans gifts. Father Julmisse explained that the residence where the Grans live is very small, with tight quarters. The local is really too small to properly look after and care for the Grans. Therefore, they would like to rebuild or add on to the residence, or potentially find a bigger local to house the Grans. Unfortunately, the possibility of rebuilding or moving is uncertain at this time.

Father Julmisse thanks the Adopt-A-Gran sponsors for their support; he is extremely appreciative. He expressed that there is a need for some basic materials to help care for the sick, such as medicine to treat those suffering from cholera and sheets and towels for all of the Grans. The residence also lack plates and drinking glasses. There is hope that the situation in Gaspard, like in the rest of the country, will improve despite the recent rain and colder temperatures, which seem to have led to increased cases of cholera. Father Julmisse thanks HelpAge Canada for contacting him. He was happy to speak with us and give a status report on the Grans.