By Katie Fry and Elizabeth Hargreaves:
Dear Los Alamos Community,
Thank you for your continued support of our mission work in Haiti. It is with great sadness that we tell you our trip has been canceled.
The April clinic will happen with an all Haitian team. All financial donations will be used for this clinic. Online donations are accepted here.
The following is a statement from Executive Director Nathan Ruby:
It is with a heavy heart that we share our decision to cancel the April Medical Mission Trip. Canceling a medical team trip is never made lightly, especially when canceling the second in a row. Two main factors influenced our decision.
Security issues continue to be a concern in Haiti. The government struggles to provide even basic peace and safety. Violent crime is unpredictable, and the kidnapping of Haitians and Americans is on the rise.
At this point, there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Haiti. Understandably, the Haitian government has a great concern that the virus could do real damage in a country with an insufficient health care system. While the details of the government’s actions are still uncertain, quarantining incoming passengers from countries with the virus is probable.
We worked hard to devise a plan that would allow the medical mission trip to take place. We could not justify the risk. The safety of our volunteers and our staff in Haiti is always our utmost concern.
Thankfully, our staff in Haiti is ready. The clinic gate will open on schedule, and our patients will experience the top-quality care, love, and compassion that is the hallmark of FOTCOH.
In the meantime, our medical staff in Haiti and the FOTCOH medical committee will work together to develop education pieces. Hence, our patients have the most up to date and accurate information to protect themselves and their families from Covid-19.
Thank you for your continued support of FOTCOH.
Nathan Ruby
Executive Director
Friends of the Children of Haiti
309-360-4983
Please continue to pray for the people of Haiti and Friends of the Children of Haiti.
Thank you,
Katie Fry and Elizabeth Hargreaves
