FORT WAYNE, Ind. — A group of 20 students, faculty and alumni from the University of Saint Francis recently returned from a four-day trip to Cap Haïtien, Haiti where they provided healthcare to 611 Haitian residents.
The group attended to 200 patients at New Hope Hospital, a rural facility that serves a community of 250,000 people. Patients at New Hope were primarily treated for dermatological conditions, HIV-associated infections, arthritic pain, ulcers, sexually-transmitted diseases, hypertension and diabetes. USF students cared for a variety of patients. One father brought his two infant sons to the hospital because one was having breathing problems. The mother was gravely ill and the two infants were malnourished so the team gave them formula as well. The father brought both in via motorcycle as the mother was too sick to travel.
Two pre-veterinary students surveyed the health of several animals and provided high quality flea meds donated by a Fort Wayne veterinarian.
The USF team set up a mobile clinic at the Université Notre Dame d’Haïti and worked alongside their nursing students to see 223 patients. One Haitian woman with a large neck tumor was examined and advised for surgery, but she could not afford the procedure. USF’s Formula for Life student group covered a portion of the costs to allow the surgery to take place.
They also provided wellness exams on the 172 children at the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Orphanage school.
USF faculty also assisted with 16 cases requesting mental health consultations.
Dr. Amy Obringer, USF professor of biology and Formula for Life faculty adviser said, “We had very strong community and campus support via donations. We carried with us just over 2,000 pounds of donated OTC meds, vitamins, shoes and surgical supplies, and we are so appreciative of this support for our project.”
Established in 2008 by USF alumna Cortney Shepard after a medical mission trip to Haiti, Formula for Life is a USF student philanthropic group which works to improve the nutrition and living conditions of orphaned children in Haiti.
Founded in 1890 in the Catholic Franciscan tradition, the University of Saint Francis offers more than 70 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs through the School of Health Sciences, School of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Keith Busse School of Business and Entrepreneurial Leadership and School of Creative Arts. In addition to its traditional programs, USF designs focused curricula for working adults in Fort Wayne, Crown Point and online. In 2016, the University of Saint Francis expanded its presence to downtown Fort Wayne. USF Downtown houses the university’s business and music technology programs while offering enhanced internship and networking opportunities for students. The University of Saint Francis campus experience includes 16 athletic programs boasting two individual and four team NAIA national championships, and is recognized as an NAIA Five-Star Champion of Character institution. Approximately 2,300 students from a broad geographic region attend USF.