African Caribbean Institute To Participate In Haitian Health And Happy Fest In Nashville, Tennessee

Dr. Leonard Madu

On Saturday May 18, 2013, Nashville's Friends of Haiti will sponsor the annual Health and Happy Fest.

The event is a fundraiser for the Haiti Medical Clinic Project. The project organizes regular medical missions to the rural and needy areas of Haiti.

Some of the activities at the event will include multicultural displays, free health screening, live bands, singing, dancing and speeches. The event will be held at the Nashville First Church of the Nazarene from 10am to 5pm.

One of those who will speak at the event is Dr. Leonard Madu, President of the African Caribbean Institute, an international organization that fosters relationships between African/Caribbeans and the United States. A friend of former Haitian President Jean Bertrand Aristide, Madu will speak on Haiti's contributions to the world.

“In spite of its seemingly insurmountable problems, Haiti remains a country of historical significance”, said Dr. Madu.

Other speakers will include Dr. Maromy Samuel, President of the Haitian Medical Project, Council Lady Erica Gilmore of District 19, Mr. Toks Omishakin, Assistant Commissioner of Tennessee Department of Transportation, Council man Scott Davies of District 7, Mrs. Phidomise Leveque, President of Tennessee Haitian Voice, and Dr. Vladimir Berthaud, Director of the HIV/aids Center at Meharry Medical College. Dr. Berthaud who is from Haiti will speak on the current medical needs of Haiti.

Since the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, the health care system has been in shambles. If it was bad before the quake, it is even worse now. Haiti is still a medical backwater, trapped in a time capsule where diseases such as diarrhea, malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/aids run amok. Haiti has the highest infant and maternal mortality rate in the region and 80% of its population live below the poverty line. NGOS have become the primary provider of health care as the public health care system crumbles. In short, Haiti has become a medical missionary's mission.

Medical charity is fine, but it is not a substitute for a free, national indigenous health care system.

In, steps the Cubans who have drawn up a plan to revamp the Haitian health care system. This plan has been adopted at a tripartite meeting between the Haitian, Brazilian and Cuban ministers of health in Port Au Prince on March 27, 2013. In addition Cuba has trained 550 Haitian doctors and are currently training 567 more.

With the above in mind, the general public are invited to attend the event and generously support the the noble activities of the Haitian Medical Project.