Spin Your Wheels for Healthcare in Haiti
Written by Jennifer Applegate
Fundraising efforts are in full force amongst Roots members and cyclists alike as anticipation of the Roots Health Ride for Haiti grows. Meeting the $10,000 goal for the event will allow Roots of Development to effectively begin our healthcare project on the island of La Gonave. In a country where diarrhea and gastroenteritis (your basic stomach flu) are the second leading cause of death, the need for a sustainable healthcare system could not be more evident.
Currently, the Haitian infant mortality rate is 80 per 1,000 live births, in contrast to the U.S. rate of only 8 per 1,000 live births. When the Roots health care team visited Gran Sous, a small village on the island of La Gonave, in April 2009, they learned that about 90% of women give birth in their homes. The local midwives expressed their desire to learn more about how to help mothers during the birthing process; specifically what to do when something goes wrong.
World Vision, a humanitarian charitable organization, currently employs one part-time doctor in Gran Sous. This lone doctor is responsible for serving over 3,000 people in the community. Consequently, not everyone can access the medical care he provides. Roots hopes to improve the community’s accessibility to the local doctor and help expand his medical resources.
Marian Bissonnette, a member of the Roots Advisory Board and Health Ride Chairperson, traveled to Haiti with a health team this past spring. During the team’s time on La Gonave, the Haitians shared with them many stories about the current state of healthcare in the community. Many community members expressed their interest in gaining access to healthcare education, and discussed how important such knowledge would be in helping them improve particular areas of healthcare, such as midwifery. “We are actively working with Haitian committee members to see how we can support them, with their ideas, in making connections to promote sustainable healthcare through education and practices,” explained Marian. Roots now hopes to help the community turn their healthcare ideas into tangible solutions.
In order to raise funds and awareness for the current health crisis on La Gonave, Roots of Development is holding the 1st Annual Health Ride for Haiti on September 20th. Cyclists and their families will enjoy a day’s worth of events complete with refreshments and raffle prizes. The grand prize is a three-night stay at the Brezavar Bed and Breakfast in Manhattan, and will be awarded to the cyclist who raises the most money for the ride.*
For those who can travel to Mansfield, Connecticut, strap on your helmets and register for the Health Ride for Haiti, at http://www.rootsofdevelopment.dojiggy.com/. Cyclists and their families will enjoy a fun and healthy day outside in the midst of gorgeous countryside. The cyclists will pedal along winding paths through the hills of rural New England, ending where they began at E.O. Smith High School.
For supporters that prefer not to take the 20 or 40-mile challenge, there is still plenty of fun to be had. Children, and those out for a relaxing ride, can partake in the 4.5-mile course. Kids can then spin their wheels through face painting booths and brightly colored balloons.
At the finish line, cyclists will ride through the health fair portion of the event. All of the booths will be sponsored by local “mom and pop” stores in and around the town of Mansfield. “We want to provide an advertising opportunity for the small neighborhood stores, particularly in this time of economic struggle, and educate cyclists about the healthy alternatives offered right in their own town,” stated Marian.
Those of us unable to hoist our bikes into overhead compartments to join the cyclists in Mansfield on the morning of September 20th can still offer our support. Aspiring cyclists and non-riders alike, should visit http://www.rootsofdevelopment.dojiggy.com/ to find out how you can have a part in the Health Ride for Haiti festivities. Product and service donations, as well as cyclist sponsorships can all be made directly online. There are also opportunities for particularly dedicated organizations to match funds raised for the event. So let’s all tap different resources and see how we can do our part to support sustainable healthcare in Gran Sous. Remember, “Men anpil chay pa lou- Many hands make the load lighter.”
* Participating members of the Bissonnette family are not eligible for the grand prize.
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