More than 400 residents from different communities in Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas, received free medical services recently thanks to a United States-based traveling health clinic. The medical services and lectures were part of evangelistic campaign efforts going on for the Haitian Community on the island, Feb. 19 to Mar. 23, 2024.
Health Care Ministries (HCM), an international traveling health clinic from New York, in collaboration with Pastor Wilson lsnord, assistant evangelism coordinator of the South Bahamas Conference, and three Haitian churches in New Providence, assisted during the five-days of free health clinics Feb. 19-23.
“As a pastor, I believe in ministering to the needs in the community,” said Isnord. In 2019, Isnord played a pivotal role in communicating evacuation procedures to the Haitian community in Abaco during Hurricane Dorian, church leaders said. His experience has inspired him to explore additional ways to support the Haitian community, which is the largest foreign ethnic group in The Bahamas.
“What is going on in Haiti, especially the political crises, causes many to be emotionally stressed,” explained Isnord. “As a leader, it behooves me to find a way to minister to their needs; mental, emotional, spiritual, [and] even financial needs of the community.”
HCM is a group of volunteers who work together to provide free medical care to those in the Haitian Diaspora, as well as persons in need. Although HCM is based in New York, medical professionals from New Jersey and Florida consistently join the group in its yearly travels, explained Dr. Daniel Mondesir, founder and president of HCM. The non-profit organization began health mission efforts in Haiti after the country was devastated by the 2010 earthquake.
Dr. Mondesir shared that recently the group had to diversify its destinations to reach more persons in the Haitian Diaspora. “They are spreading all over the world, and they are still suffering,” he said, “and a lot of them are underprivileged in many different parts of the world.”
During the planning of their travels, Mondesir also took into consideration the safety of the volunteers, as some individuals also travel with their children. “We decided until our homeland gets better, we are going to help those that are in need in other places that are less dangerous and much safer for us to be,” added Mondesir.
Their first mission trip outside of Haiti was to the Dominican Republic in February 2020. Shortly after, the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted their plans until this year, when fourteen members were able to travel to The Bahamas.
The clinics were held at Francophone Adventist Church, Bethel Adventist Church and Ebenezer Adventist Church. The medical missionaries began each clinic in the morning, and the group provided physical health checkups, medicine, and lectures.
According to Dr. Sergelyne Cadet-Valeus, an internal medicine specialist and HCM member, many individuals visited the clinic for issues of high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol.
“We have come with a lot of medication, [and] information to help the people in the community,” said Dr. Cadet-Valeus.
During each lecture, individuals were invited to ask questions on various health topics including cancer, nutrition, and non-communicable diseases.
While providing medical assistance, HCM also donated food and clothing to individuals in the community.
“We educate the people. Giving them is one thing; showing them how to take care of themselves is another thing,” said Mondesir. “We sent eight to nine barrels of clothes and food to distribute to the needy. It is not just medication that is going to help them,” he added.
Health volunteers from the three Haitian local Adventist churches were also assisting the community. According to Ebenezer Adventist Church volunteer, 16-year-old Gerry Annacius, health clinics such as HCM are important as they help those who are disenfranchised, which is part of the Christian’s duty.
“This is just one of our ways to give back to the community,” said Annacius, “We are also doing God’s work by just helping people in general, by making sure they are doing well and that they’re feeling okay, and they get the health care that they need.”
Volunteering with HCM also motivated Annacius to continue assisting his church as a health missionary.
“It taught me that being a Christian health professional isn’t just about knowing how to do things and how to use instruments but connecting with people,” Annacius said.
As the group travels every year to different territories, Mondesir shared they are always looking for volunteers and individuals who can assist by other means. The important thing, he said, is to reach as many people as they can. “I know that we cannot save the world, but we can make a difference,” Mondesir said.
During their stay, the team also presented various health topics at the beginning of the Creole-speaking Evangelistic Series. The evangelistic tent revival series is being held under the theme “Lè Wayòm sa va Vini” (When the Kingdom comes), with Evangelist Moise Arboite, from Feb. 25 to Mar. 16, at R.M. Bailey High School.
The original article was published on the Inter-American Division website.