From the 12th to the 19th of October, a group of ten people from Holy Apostles parish of New Berlin, in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, visited the La Sagrada Familia parish of Sabana Yegua. Since 2013, Holy Apostles has a twinning relationship with La Sagrada Familia, which over the years has bear much fruit. In the last two years, the most significant result of this relationship between sister-churches has been the medical campaigns carried in Sabana Yegua by members of Holy Apostles, to provide specific attention to the significant population of Haitian immigrants in the parish.
This last time we had the participation of a general practitioner, a pediatrician and a dentist, who served 273 people during the three days of the clinic. One hundred and forty-one patients received general medical care for a wide variety of diseases, especially infections caused by the use of unsafe water and stress-related illnesses. Stress-related disorders are very common in the Haitian community: food insecurity, economic insecurity, housing and immigration status in the new country expose people to much tension, which is reflected in continuous headaches, backaches and stomach ailments.
Fifty-two people received dental services, such as check-ups and minor surgeries of extraction of teeth. Eighty children from the child care program carried out by the Community of Saint Paul were also reviewed and attended. Many were given preventive general and oral health treatments.
We are grateful for the enthusiasm of our friends from Holy Apostles, for their readiness to share their time and medical knowledge with us, and for wanting to contribute a bit to the task of welcoming Haitian immigrants in Sabana Yegua.
