One year on is like one week on for many Haitians

These populated areas with tents are today known as tent cities. 

And today although CNN has moved on from the daily reporting of the Haitian people, many today find themselves in exactly the same state as a week after the earthquake.

One of the triumphs out of this tragedy is that the Haitian people have more medical volunteers than ever before in their history, and a team consisting of one dentist and two assistants decided to make a difference, not forgetting the people who otherwise would not be able to afford such treatment. 

The team of three that left on May 26 for Haiti with Cornerstone Foundation consisted of dentist, Dr Yvonne Chiramuta; and two dental assistants, Monica Davis and Denise Samuels.

Mary Samuels, Pastor Gary Simons and Pastor Robert Caldwell led the team to Haiti. 

The team fulfilled their mission to administer dental treatment including surgery and conduct seminars on dental care for the Mission House containing over 350 children and teenagers. 

Proper medical care is difficult to come by in Haiti whereas dental care is a luxury. 

Haitian born missionary Elsie Llherisson directs the busy home after resigning from her position as a financial banker in New York City. 

After accepting Christ as her personal Saviour she felt the call to leave her life of comfort and materialism to return home and invest in the younger generation. 

Starting from nothing to now over 400 children and teens, her ministry consists of a feeding programme of 2,400 meals per month, educational sponsorship, Bible teaching, music development and various areas of training. 

The Cornerstone Foundation conducted seven mission trips last year with the help of various Bermuda churches and businesses.

The earlier trips consisted of getting tons of food and medical supplies into the country while also conducting medical clinics. 

As we assessed the needs of those impacted by the earthquake we realized that dental care was highly neglected in Haiti among both children and adults. 

The medical and dental clinics consisted of registering patients to keep an ongoing record of them for future trips, then moving to the waiting room, getting assessed by the dental or medical nurse, then waiting to see the doctor or dentist in another waiting room, then getting treated.

While in the second waiting area they are normally prayed for by a team of people as they hear what prayer requests they have. 

When each member of the team was asked what impacted them the most while being in Haiti, Monica, dental claims manager of BF&M Life Insurance Company stated: “It brings so much joy to my heart to see people so thankful, especially when you relieve their pain that they have had for months; they were so thankful and happy with what we offered them.” 

Dental assistant Denise Samuels responded: “I am so thankful to be on this trip.  I thought I would never go to Haiti, but I have discovered that I have something to offer and my little that I’ve sacrificed has humbled me to know that I can bless others in big ways.”

The team was averaging approximately 20 patients per day. This may not seem like a large amount, but keep in mind each patient is averaging three to five fillings. 

In Haiti many of the adults and children have never seen a dentist before. 

As a result of tooth decay, most children and adults will suffer unnecessary toothaches and infections. 

Many just have to bear with the pain or in desperation try to extract the tooth themselves.

However, because of the dental team, many teeth are being saved through fillings.

In addition to the dental care, the children and adults are learning through the seminars on tooth care taught by Dr Yvonne.

She said: “It is so important that we not only give them fish, but teach them how to fish. Prevention is the best care for the children’s teeth.”

Dr Yvonne also shared: “I look at mission trips this way: either you are a goer in which you leave your comfort zone to go and help others; or you are a giver meaning you give financially to help others go; or you’re an intercessor, in which you pray for those who go.

Well, I was so struck by the needs for proper dental care that I decided to move from the category of giver to goer and I’m loving every moment of it.”