LET US HELP HAITI
Natalio Izquierdo MD Chair Pan-American Haiti Relief Program
Editorial I believe my love affair with Haiti started during childhood. My mother’s Little Helper as we used to affectionately call her, was from Haitian origin. For us her name was Cecilia, but her husband called her “Cecile”. She taught me a few French words, in our home’s kitchen. I used to sneak into the kitchen, attracted by the food, hoping she would give me a taste of the meal she was preparing. In this way, my interest for this exotic foreign country began. I was certain that Haitians were fed with delicious food. Haiti’s history is interesting. When Haiti became independent, as part of the negotiation, Haiti had to indemnify French colonizers and land owners. This international debt kept Haiti impoverished for a whole century. Further, during the 20th century, Haiti had several dictators. These autocratic and oligarchic governments forced many intellectuals to leave their country. Further, a reign of terror was installed by secret policemen called the “ton ton macoutes”. Many well-educated Haitians moved to neighboring countries including Puerto Rico. I remember for example Dr. Jean-Claude Bajeux, who was my Professor at the University of Puerto Rico. He had been a seminarian, who studied at the Sorbonne University in Paris. His family was annihilated during Duvalier’s dictatorship. After his tenure in Puerto Rico, he returned to Haiti during the end of the 20th century to become his country’s Secretary of Education. When a nation allows intellectuals to emigrate, a lot is at stake, and consequences may be dreadful. I have met several ophthalmologists from Haiti during supranational meetings and regional courses. For years they have faced many challenges. Fifty ophthalmologists care for eight million citizens. This year the PAAO made specific plans to help Dr. Jean Claude Cadet and the Ophthalmology Residency program in Haiti. We had planned a joint effort to add an Eye Clinic in a private hospital in Port-au-Prince. The recent earthquake changed our plans: On one hand, the devastating consequences of this natural disaster and on the other, the anguish of not being able to communicate with so many colleagues from a neighboring nation. In the meantime, my desire to support Haiti just grew stronger. I recruited colleagues from all over the world. Following the lead of the Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology, other supranational organizations have donated generously, such as the International Council of Ophthalmology and the 4:
PAN-AMERICA
European Society of Ophthalmology. The first society to donate was the Ophthalmological Society of the West Indies. Many other national societies generously came forward like the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the Colombian Society of Ophthalmology, the Peruvian Society of Ophthalmology, the Salvadorian Association of Ophthalmology and the Swedish Society of Ophthalmology. Even supranational subspecialty societies have come forward generously like ALACCSA. Pharmaceutical industry leaders helped too. Both Alcon and Allergan laboratories donated thousands of ophthalmic drops samples, and eye cleaning solutions that were sent to Haiti. Let us all help Haiti. Let us rebuild Port-au-Prince just like Napoleon did with Paris, or American leaders did with San Francisco after the earthquake. Let us repair old hospitals, and build new ones. Let us repair our alliances. Let us bridge that gap. Let us help ophthalmologists in Haiti to join our meetings, so that Haitians may benefit from their continued medical education. I have a dream of an emerging country that will rise from the ashes like the mythical Phoenix firebird. Ophthalmologists have big hearts. Please send your contribution. Every single dollar is important. Please donate through the PAAO website (www.paao.org).
I thank you in advance, Natalio Izquierdo MD San Juan, Puerto Rico
Associations that have donated to the cause for Haiti The Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology The International Council of Ophthalmology The European Society of Ophthalmology The Ophthalmological Society of the West Indies The American Academy of Ophthalmology The Colombian Society of Ophthalmology The Peruvian Society of Ophthalmology The Salvadorian Association of Ophthalmology The Swedish Society of Ophthalmology ALACCSA