Page 19 - GP FALL 2010

FM: The sun gets hot, even in left, the public health profession-
early mornings. So we started als had a chance to speak to the
seeing patients at 7:30 a.m. I people who lived in these tents.
don’t know when the patients The leaks, the mud, and lack of
started to line up but lines privacy are but a few in a long list
were already long even before of problems still facing the fami-
we opened. The announce- lies there.
ment went out that there would
be a dentist providing services. My hopes are that after this year’s
Patients came with various presidential elections in Haiti,
requests from cleanings and there will be new leadership com-
restorative treatment to extrac- pelled to do something to help
tions. Most of them spoke Haiti and her people.
French-Creole so I was able to
communicate with them direct- GP: Do you plan on going on
ly. The majority of the days another mission to Haiti? If so,
were spent doing extractions. how can we help?
All the treatments were ren- Extraction being performed at Eliazare-Germain Hospital. FM: Another mission to Haiti is
dered under universal precau- being planned for February and
tions as well as with the use of June 2011 even as we speak.
a head light. Needless to say, There’s so much work to be done.
doing extractions 8 to 10 I know I have to go back and fin-
hours a day standing in the ish what I started. Hopefully, by
same position can take a phys- then, Haiti will be in a better posi-
ical and mental toll on you. I tion than what I left behind.
did not keep count as to how Every drop in the bucket matters.
many patients I saw but I
believe it was an average of As far as help is concerned, my
30 patients a day. One patient hope is that on the next medical
blends into another and after a mission, I will not be the only
while fatigue starts to play dentist present. Hopefully some-
tricks with your mind. one reading this article will be
Patients waiting to be seen. motivated to leave their comfort
All the members of the team, zone and help out a fellow human
as well as the local volunteers, being in need thousands of miles
were frantically involved in away. I’m optimistic that by the
their particular tasks. next medical mission, I won’t be
Unfortunately, we did not have the only dentist volunteering ser-
time to interact with patients vices. Feel free to contact me at
on a personal level, let alone fmilorddds@gmail.com or take a
each other. As the only dentist look at NOAH NY’s website at
there, I worked by myself. By www.noahny.org. We should all
the end of each day, we were get involved and lend a helping
all stiff, exhausted, and in pain, hand.
just looking to put up our
swollen feet. GP: Thank you for taking the time
to talk to us, Dr. Milord, and best
On the last day of the mission, Tent cities have become an all too familiar site in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. wishes on all your future missions.
the patients have lined up
extremely early to be seen. The waiting area was filled to Photographs courtesy of Dr. Fabiola Milord, DDS, FAGD.
capacity and we were not sure if we would be able to see Compiled and edited by Dr. Seung-Hee Rhee DDS, FAGD.
everyone. As usual, with diligence, patience, blood, and
sweat, we got through the day. Reference:
“2010 Haiti Earthquake.” Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia.
GP: Was anyone turned away? Web. 11 Aug. 2010.
FM: No one was turned away. I saw everyone. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_Haiti_earthquake>.

GP: What are your concerns and hopes for the future of
Haiti?
FM: On our way to the airport on our last day in Haiti, we
passed by one of the many tent cities strewn all across Port-au-
Prince since the earthquake. This lifestyle has become a dis-
tressing way of life for many. It rained every day we were
there. How much shelter can a tent provide? Right before we

www.nysagd.org | Fall 2010 | GP 19