Cholera in Haiti and Injustice for Aid Workers
Many of you read my last post: http://tedfellows.posterous.com/cholera-in-haiti-and-regional-infrastructure Where I spoke of an urgent need for Cholera treatment supplies in Borgne.
The team that actually got those supplies out to Borgne for PAHO was MMRC. A group I have felt does great work and that saves lives. You can see video of this trip to Borgne at their site: http://mmrcglobal.org/cholera-borgne-haiti Well December 16th the co-founder of MMRC Paul Waggoner is being sent to the Haitian National Penitentiary in Port Au Prince for 3 MONTHS to await the Magistrative Investigation. Like 90% of prisoners at the prison who have never been convicted, he is not convicted, but this is a very dangerous place for him. This is a case that will send a chill through the international aid community. Paul is being accused of stealing a baby by a bereaved father, whose baby died in a hospital in Petionville. From the MMRC official statement ( http://mmrcglobal.org/first-official-statement ): "The child in question died at HCH (Haitian Community Hospital in Petionville) late February while Paul was working logistics at the location. Paul does not work on medical care. The grieving father has stated that he believes Paul stole the baby and that the baby is still alive due to the fact that the baby’s eyes would not close after death. He has reported that Paul either wanted to adopt, or sell the baby." Paul was a logistical volunteer, taking names, getting supplies, moving paper and goods. He did not provide medical care on the child that died in that hospital, but he is being held responsible for the death of that child by a bereaved father. But this is not only about Paul. This is a situation that provides a a chilling precedent for ALL medical volunteers in Haiti during this fight with Cholera. Who from the international community wants to come to fight Cholera if they fear they can go to jail if they are unable to save somebody? In the US call your senators, call the State Department at 202-647-4956 and ask for Suzanne Grantham. Also call Overseas Citizens Services at 202-647-5225 and make sure the embassy keeps this situation on the front burner. But more importantly for Haitians and Haitian diaspora call your senators in Haiti, call your mayors, and let them know this will hit at the heart of all cholera treatment efforts. Ask them to appeal to the judiciary to move forward Paul's processing and find a quick resolution to his case. I can only hope that Paul is out soon, back to work moving Cholera treatment supplies, and that his accuser is able to receive support and counseling for the loss of his child.
Posted by Peter Haas
