On December 13, 2010, Ali Moore (BScN '07) didn't expect to be spending Christmas in Haiti. She was finishing up the first semester of her Masters of Public Health degree, while her husband, fellow TWU alumnus Simon Moore (BSc Hons. '05) was in the first year of his residency at Naniamo General Hospital. It was a phone call from a friend who mentioned that Samaritans Purse (SP) was looking for medical staff over the holidays that got her thinking.
"Simon said, let's think of reasons why we can go instead of reasons why we can't," said Ali. The next few days involved maneuvering around numerous hurdles. Simon arranged to make up time he would miss from his mandatory surgical rotation and the couple made a last minute sprint to Victoria to seek an emergency passport issue (Simon's passport sent for renewal in October hadn't been returned). The office declined their request, then one day before they were set to leave, the passport showed up in their mailbox. In the end, one week after the idea was considered, they were departing on the first of three connecting flights to Haiti.
"Cholera is a vile illness to watch. It kills its victims by sucking the fluid and nourishment out of their bodies in the most wretched ways - profuse vomiting and diarrhea," said Ali. The disease is most often spread through the ingestion of contaminated food or drinking water. Water may be contaminated by the feces of an infected person or by untreated sewage.
"It is a simple disease, with a simple treatment plan and for those who are afflicted and seen in appropriate time it was like watching someone come back to life," she said.
As healthcare professionals in North America both Ali and Simon were used to seeing patients in pain and suffering. In Haiti, they encountered another side human misery. "When you are faced with constant suffering you have to contemplate what is wrong with a world that is so inequitable and unjust, where even basic sanitation and hygiene are not available," she said. "These are fundamental human needs and, I believe, rights."
Now back at school and work, the Moores are encouraging ongoing awareness of the situation in Haiti. "Our own laziness allows our minds to slip away from the reality of famine, poverty, gender-based violence, child prostitution, disease, and death that is everyday life for so many around the globe," said Ali. They recently appeared on 'A News' to talk about their experience in Haiti.
Another TWU aluma, Taryne Lepp, RN, is currently a volunteer nurse in Haiti. "Cholera is everywhere, but through the chaos, God is present," she said. Learn more about her experience in the video: Through the Chaos.
In June 2011, Justin Baerg, TWU pre-med senior and TWUSA's NATS rep, along with his sister Janelle, RN, will lead a team of nursing and pre-med students to Haiti. The team will spend one month partnering with Heart2Heart Haiti working in community health education and assisting a team of doctors and nurses with primary care. To learn more about their trip and help them with their current fundraising goal of $2500 contact Justin.baerg@mytwu.ca.
January 24-27, 2011 is Missions week at TWU with events happening on campus that highlight global mission opportunities.