[Mimi2000]

hello, I am new in this forum and maybe someone can help me. I am in the process of adopting a child in haiti (papers are in ibesr). Now I heard that she apparently had conjunctivitis and was in the hospital in Port au Prince for 2 weeks and got IV treatment. I am so worried. Is it possible to got to the hospital for this or are they are not telling me about possible complications. Also, anyone knows are there situations when a sick child can leave Haiti earlier to be treated in Europe or USA? Thank you. Mimi

[kayder1996]

It is possible for children to receive medical care in the States during their adoption process. It is called a medical visa and in order to get one a child must have a host family in the US, US doctors who will agree to treat the child free of charge, and a doctor in Haiti who will attest to the danger that the child is in if they do not receive the medical care in the States. However, the governments (obviously) don't just give them for anything.

Medical care in Haiti is not good generally speaking; I know our orphanage would rather keep sick children at the orphanage than send them to the hospital if it's possible. You really just need to ask your orphanage/agency/facilitator for more information as to if there were complications and what they were. You should be able to get a medical record of some kind if you ask. (It would be all in French but at least you would have it for your child's health records once they arrive home.) Another question you could ask is how often pedatricians visit the orphanage because that would help you know what kind of follow up care your child will receive, especially if it seems like he is chronically ill. One more thing that might matter is what kind of medical care can be provided at your orphanage. Our orphanage has a well stocked medical supply closet (per the words of a visiting doctor and respitory therapist) and has a room where the weekly pedatrician visits can conducted in. I've heard not all orphanage have this not due to their lack of concern over kids but because they simply can't afford it. But asking about it would help you know. (And if you didn't think they had the supplies they needed, maybe you could help them get them.)

[monami7]

We see children in the hospital all the time. Soemtimes it seems it is just for a cold. That being said if your child id back at the O my thought is that they are probably doing fie. Medical Visa's are very hard to come by. Lilly was literally on her death bed and we had letters from everyone inc. Doctors and ins, us and the O director. lilly was expedited through a lot of the process but still did not get a medical Visa. Threre inother family trying to get tehre child home on a medical Visa now. It will still be a few onths to get him home. Good luck. It sounds like your child was just sick. Remember that in Haiti they will take them in for a little thing so that it never becomes something major.
Heidi

[Mimi2000]

Thank you very much for your answers. Do you have any idea how much the cost is for a day in the hospital in Haiti? And is it common to pay this immediately to the agency or when you pick up the child?

[monami7]

Our agency paid for her hospital care. We were never asked to pay more for it. We did pay $500 to help in the expediting fees to get her home. But that was the only extra we paid.
Heidi