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ph Scugog Citizen -- Tuesday, November 8, 1994 --33 = Linda Heeringa working in strife-torn Haiti by Heather McCrae For most of us when Haiti is mentioned we think of a country besieged with political fighting, hatred, killings, and poverty. But *a young Blackstock woman, who just signed a two © year contract to work in a Haitian hospital, says she's looking forward to this stint as 'an adventure and one she'll gain a lot of experience from. Upon graduating from the three year Medical Laboratory Technology program at Mohawk College this past August, Linda Heeringa signed up with the Grant Foundation which recruits people to work in Third World Countries. Speaking to Linda, the day before her departure last Tuesday (November 1) she told the Citizen she'll be working in the lab at the Albert Schweitzer Hospital in Deschapelles, Haiti. The hospital, established in 1966, is situated in the, Artibonite Valley, nestled' between two principal mountain ranges on the Island. ; The twenty-one year old woman will be doing the usual duties of a lab technician here and says "most of the Haitian methods are manual, whereas our own medical field deals with automated instruments". She » bottled water only as the country's water supply is polluted with thousands of parasites. In preparation for her 'adventure' Linda says she spent three weeks of extra training in parasitology at St. Joseph's Hospital in Hamilton. Haiti is a country plagued with malnutrition, TB and acute infections, Aids and Syphilis included, with the mortality rate of children being very high. "They don't have the funds for immunization like we d&§ Linda told the Citizen. The natives often practice voodooism as a last resort before coming to the hospital for medical attention. "Because of this ancient custom, many are almost dying or dead upon arrival at the ~cliffic" she said. " Linda's flight and housing are paid and she'll be getting paid but "it's nothing I'm going to get rich on} she laughed. She says she stopped reading the newspapers about the daily fighting and political slayings. "I found it to be discouraging". Although her parents, John and Laura, weren't really keen about her going to Haiti in the beginning, they're very supportive now. says the Haitian people are open to new ideas about their medical care and welcome 'new blood' to offer current and different expertise. While there aren't any telephones in Deschapelles, communication to the outside 'world' is made through short wave radio to Port au Prince, the capital city, located about 100 miles away. Most communication is done by mail, Linda says, "and that's flown in maybe a couple of times a week". Working shifts, five days a week, Linda will be living with another staff memher in a facility located close to the hospital. Enduring cold showers, * she'll be doing her laundry by hand and because electricity is limited the people are without power in the mornings. While the official language is French, most of the people speak Creole, a dialect of Fperich and Spanish. Linda gays she took French'in high school "but it's -pretty bad" she smiled. However language tutors are provided and she says most df the people in the lab speak English anyway. Rice and beans are the country's staple foods, however fresh fruit markets dot the countryside everywhere. As for the water, Linda will be drinking Works November 12th, 1994. THE REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY of DURHAM HOLIDAY CLOSURE OF TRANSFER & RECYCLING SITES The Oshawa, Cartwright and Scugog Transfer and Recycling Sites will'be closed Friday, Nov. 11th, 1994 for the Remembrance Day Holiday. Normal operations will resume on Saturday, V.A. SILGAILIS, PENG. COMMISSIONER OF WORKS Department (a) = CANAAN Chinese Restaurant | AR 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 pm. - 7 days per week reoupon ill Special nd for only $3. +7 days per week lor drscount. Buffet Dinner | Buy 1 Buffet Dinner at regular price and receive the 2 1.99 a 54% Mon. - Thurs. og. $108 ou ha V0 I sur ald20pn. Hull, Quebec K1A OH3 {Family Dinner For 4 4 Egg Rolls, BBQ Chicken Wings, Nol valid in combination with any oer s¢.«cial offers. ae Expires Nov. JO ofan SSS SSoooooISToEERg = Cp 23" Phase marke coupan wher cd ch rb, okt ev, 304 4 PICK-UP DELIVERY | For more informatigh about the open houses or for your own' copy of the EIS or the Summary, please complete the coupon below and send to Guy Riverin/Heather Humphries Federal Environmental Assessment Review Office (FEARO) 200 Sacré-Coeur Bivd., 13th Floor Tel: (819) 997-2244/953-2754 (call collect) Please send rors eal (check box): The Open Houses (J The EIS (496 pages) (J The EIS Summary (47 pages) OQ drive would do me in" she laughed. "Haiti is an adventure, driving into Toronto'every day would kill me!" she said. "I'm going mainly for the experience" she told the Citizen. With her qualifications the closest job available 'at home' would be in Toronto "and that Fax. (819) 994-1469 1. 161 A Dundas St. E;, Whitby 436-886 66. Province: To: Name: Limited Delivery Area City: 061 Postal Code: as EB Canada