Emeline’s Story
Jeremie, Haiti is a Remote and Rural Town Near the Tip of Haiti’s Southwest Peninsula
Women’s healthcare in Haiti has mostly focused on pregnancy, family planning, childcare and infectious diseases such as HIV and malaria. Non-communicable diseases such as breast cancer have not been a priority.
Breast Cancer Clinic
Jeremie, Haiti
A women’s health care program has been initiated and a Breast Cancer Clinic built by Bette Gebrian, leader of the Grand Anse Women’s Special Health Program.
Emeline Before Surgery
Emeline was encouraged by her church to visit the Grand Anse Women’s Special Health Clinic in Jeremie and have a breast exam. A breast cancer was diagnosed. She was put on a list for the next visit of the Grand Anse Surgery Project (GASP.) Emeline was evaluated by a GASP doctor and accepted for breast surgery.
GASP Surgeons Confirm Emeline’s Diagnosis
While surgical intervention is available in Port-au-Prince, patients in remote and rural areas like Jeremie have limited access to these surgical options. Women like Emeline are often too poor or too sick to make the long and arduous trip to a distant hospital.
Emeline During Surgery
The GASP doctors work with the local surgical team to bring surgical intervention option for breast cancer to women like Emeline. Otherwise, local women would not have access to surgical care. GASP doctors do not charge for their surgical care.
Emeline Post Surgery
Emeline’s surgery was a success! Together with the early detection efforts of the Grand Anse Women’s Special Health Program, the local surgical team and the GASP doctors, women like Emeline can have better outcomes. They can be cancer survivors and not cancer victims.
Dr. Dan Scoppetta and Dr. Erick Pierre
Working together towards an autonomous local surgical service.