Women’sHistoryMonth

Dr. Agathe Jean-Baptiste, grew up in the Central Plateau of Haiti where she returned to practice medicine after completing her medical training in Cuba. She is the daughter of Agronomist Chavannes Jean-Baptiste, recipient of the Goldman Environmental Prize and founder of the Peasant Movement of Haiti (M.P.P); the oldest and largest peasant cooperative in Haiti, with 60,000 plus members.

Above, Dr. Jean-Baptiste gives instruction on womb fetal positioning during a Midwifery training course for MPP collective members. 40 members from the collective participated in the free training.

(at right) Nurse, teacher-trainer Maestra Denise Desormeaux asks questions of Midwife student and MPP member Jean Jolles during the oral exam segment of the training. Jolles was one of 40 students, from throughout Haiti attending the week-long training.”I want to work and help within in my community and protect the women in my community,” Jolles said.

Yesterday, as I was going through photographs I rediscovered a roll or black and white film. Why I did not see them before? Has this happened to you? I realize that the requirements of deadline and demands of color images can impact the way we see things.. so this is my answer. I was delighted to find this roll of film and it took me back to this time and place in the Dominican Republic, just over the border from Haiti.. Looking back also reminds me of the enormous strength of Dr. Alba. A Haitian physician who works out of a mobile medical van serving remote, under-served populations. In this group of images Dr. Alba is treating hurricane-flood survivors relocated to this camp – a barren, dry, hot and unforgiving landscape. Not only did Dr. Alba’s and her van administer healing, and medicines, the van also served as a social hub for people residing in the camp. An inspiration to remember during Women’s History Month

The van funded by the Humanity and Democracy Foundation of Spain. Medicines for the van supplied by Direct Relief International, a Humanitarian organization based in Santa Barbara, California and the American Jewish World Service. Water for drinking, bathing, brushing teeth, and laundry organized by Oxfam International