Oaks has possibly two people who have been called to Haiti on the Feb, 2011 team that need assistance with finances. They are halfway or more to meeting their goals of $750 each. If you feel called to help with a donation in any amount, please give as you are led.
As we plan for our February team to leave on February 15, we know that our plans have been made with God’s assistance. We also know that Haiti is an unstable country all the time. Pray for our trip, our team members and those in Haiti we go to serve. May God open the doors not only to the medical assistance but always to the spiritual so that we can make an eternal difference, even if it is to one person in Haiti or on our team.
The dates for the June 2011 trip are the 14th through the 21st. There are 12 seats reserved on MFI. Get your paperwork & deposits in fast as this trip will fill up quickly. There are people from Pennsylvania, Alabama & Florida planning to go on this mission.
Cholera is a diarrhoeal disease caused by Vibrio cholerae. Children as well as adults can get infected. Among those infected, about 20% develop acute watery diarrhoea, of which 10-20% develop severe watery diarrhoea with vomiting. The mainstay of treatment is rehydration and up to 80% of cholera cases can be treated successfully using only oral rehydration salts.
Prompt and appropriate medical management of cases can significantly decrease mortality; when applied properly, case-fatality rate should be below 1%. In untreated cases the case fatality rate may reach 30-50%. These levels are often observed in crisis situations with overcrowding, limited access to health care, and precarious environmental management.
What is the cost?
The cost of the trip from Florida to Hait for 1 week, including airfare, food, lodging and all the amenities in Haiti(ha ha)is $850.00. This includes everything except your spending money which most people bring $100.00 in small bills.
How much weight can I bring?
You are allowed to bring 30 lbs, this includes your suitcase, clothes and backpack. We supply scrubs for you daily use at the clinic. You will need clothes to wear at night, pjs, undies, socks, shoes, etc. See packing list for further details.
Do I need to be a medical person to go on the trips?
No you do not, we also need people in the front station to check people in, people to work in the eye glass station and people to work in the pharmacy.
Do I have to speak Creole?
No we do supply translators in the clinic that assist with all language barriers.
Do I need immunizations?
Yes you do. You will need Hepatitis A and B, Typhoid, Tetanus, and all you usual vaccinations. You will also need a prescription for oral malaria prophylaxis from your family MD or clinic. We recommend chloroquine, but what your MD uses is fine. He or she can go on the web site for the CDC to find the appropriate medications for you.
Do I need to bring food?
No you do not, but we recommend bringing a few granola bars, crackers etc in case you are hungry in between meals. We are well cared for with clean water and clean food for our meals so you don’t have to bring bottled water or food.
Can I fly home on the day we get back from Haiti?
No please plan to fly home on the next day as we have gotten into Florida anywhere from 2 in the afternoon to 2 in the morning.
Can I get my deposit back if I decide not to go?
No once you have put in a deposit you cannot get it back but if the trip is cancelled for any reason beyond your or my control your money will be refunded.
What age person can go?
We require a person to be 16 years old to go on a trip with Oaks. If a person is below the age of 21, we would prefere that the person has been on a mission trip out of the US in the past.
Will we have running water?
Yes, we will although we do not have hot showers. There are cold showers and in door plumbing.
What airport should I fly into?
You can fly into Orlando International Airport or Melbourne International Airport in Florida.
Can I contact my family from Haiti?
We say no. There are times we do get to make a phone call but that is not always the case. Just let your family know that you will not be able to contact them while we are outside the USA. Since we are not always able to call, we don’t want them to worry if they don’t hear from you. Inform your family that you will call when we have returned to Florida.
What about the travel advisory warning about travel in Haiti?
Yes there is a travel advisory and we don’t take that lightly, however we do have missionaries on the ground in Haiti. If it is not safe to travel, they will inform us and we will not go. We do not want to jeapardize anyone team members or our missionaries in Haiti.
