Today we want to honor a nurse who has been an invaluable part of the HAS team since nearly the beginning. This month Jeanne Micette Rosalva celebrates her 50th anniversary at HAS. Many of you who have visited or volunteered at HAS might know Jeanne.
Since 1969, Jeanne has made an impact in many departments. Dr. Mellon regularly sought Jeanne out for advice. Early in her time at HAS, she worked out in the field administering vaccines. She managed the tuberculosis program for many years and was a leader in our response to the 2010 earthquake. She now works in the malnutrition ward.
What has changed at HAS in 50 years?
Jeanne has seen first-hand how much Hôpital Albert Schweitzer has transformed the Deschapelles community. Here’s what she has to say:
Before Dr. Mellon, there was no hospital here. There was a doctor who came from time to time from St. Marc. But that was it. It was hard to find health solutions.
When Dr. Mellon came, the first thing he did was look at the community. He prioritized vaccinations, education, nutrition, public health. There were many diseases that as a result of Dr. Mellon and the hospital you no longer find in this area. For instance, a lot of children used to die from tetanus. That doesn’t happen here anymore. Those diseases disappeared because of the work done in the field.
I wish for the hospital to continue… Losing the hospital would be bad for us. Not only for us locally but for many people in Haiti because people often come from far away to seek care here.
It takes many hands and hearts.
We are grateful for Jeanne’s dedication and hard work these past 50 years.
It is a wide community of supporters, including our staff, volunteers, and donors, who have built HAS and keep it going strong now. All of us play a big part in enabling consistent, compassionate care.
Jeanne wanted toothbrush, toothpaste and hygiene kits for the people who stay overnight. Hope this can be used for this purpose!