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Haiti’s own reconstruction efforts

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Haitian Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive says his government is able to lead efforts to rebuild the country in the wake of the devastating earthquake. However, “massive support” from the international community was needed, he said. Marco Werman talks with Dr. Joia Mukherjee, the medical director of Partners In Health, a not-for-profit aid group that advocates solutions that are driven by Haitians. Download MP3

• BBC coverage
• PBS Newshour video: Delivery of aid remains the U.N.’s toughest job

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MARCO WERMAN:  Joia Mukherjee is the Medical Director of Partners in Health based here in Boston.  It’s an aid group with community based clinics throughout Haiti.  Dr. Mukherjee arrived in the country the day after the earthquake struck.

DR. JOIA MUKHERJEE:  There were no pain medicines at first.  Many people were injured.  Many of the children were there unaccompanied and so there was a lot of crying and calling out for help from God, from other people.  It was actually quite orderly, which was shocking to me given the magnitude of the suffering.  There was little chaos and a lot of suffering.

MARCO WERMAN: And you got back just this weekend.  So in the two weeks that you were there did you see an improvement?

JOIA MUKHERJEE: Massive.

MARCO WERMAN: In terms of the suffering that people were – -

JOIA MUKHERJEE: Massive improvement.  I mean pain medicines alone to people who have had massive crush injuries of their limbs and their trunk have alleviated suffering.  I think the biggest lack is food and water.  So as we’re going on rounds, as we’re seeing patients, of course people’s chief complaint now is that they’re hungry.

MARCO WERMAN: Well that leads to my next question because your organization, Partners in Health, is not a relief group.  Partners in Health distinguishes themselves as a group that advocates for solutions driven by Haitians.  So what does that mean on the ground today in Haiti when the main issue is preventing death and disease?

JOIA MUKHERJEE: I think the Haitian government needs to be capacitated.  We talk a lot about accompaniment at Partners in Health.  There is a government in the chaos that everyone has experienced.  The Haitian government has lost many people and their physical facilities.  The Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Justice, the Parliament, the Palace.  I heard a report this morning that the Haitian government is giving press conferences under a mango tree.  That’s unacceptable.  The international community needs to support the Haitian government at this time.  Can the international community help more in providing a tent, food and water and internet communications for the government?  Yes we should be doing that.

MARCO WERMAN: That kind of thing, though, is relief.  That’s an urgent need and I’m wondering if you can give me an example, a concrete example, of how a community based response is working on the ground now in post-earthquake Haiti.

JOIA MUKHERJEE: Yes.  So we need community health workers on the ground to go and find people.  Help organize mobile clinics.  Help identify tent cities, communities that are not getting assistance.  That needs to be driven by people who are the eyes and ears on the ground.  We believe that also paying grass roots workers and enabling Haitian grass roots NGO’s right now would be a very effective money, relief dollars into the hands at the very lowest grass roots level, or the highest level and to try to empower them to be able to try to help their families.

MARCO WERMAN: You mentioned this press conference that the government held under a mango tree.  Government officials are working in tents and living in tents.  Are you worried about the government’s, the Haitian government’s, ability to spearhead a reconstruction effort?

JOIA MUKHERJEE: Sure.  I’m worried about anyone’s ability.  And so I think this is where we need accompaniment.  I don’t think it’s going to be a solution that drops in by parachute.  I think it’s going to be a long term need for solidarity and accompaniment among the appropriate partners who can help with telecommunications, who can help with reconstruction, quick reconstruction.  I wish the Haitian government was working under a tent.  I’m not sure that they even have a tent.

MARCO WERMAN: Well western governments and even individual donors are quite concerned about writing big checks given Haiti’s long history of corruption.  We spoke earlier today with Haiti’s Tourism Minister, Patrick de la Tour who’s spearheading the reconstruction effort and here’s what he had to say when we asked him about mismanagement.

PATRICK DE LA TOUR:  I’m not worried about corruption at all.  I do not – - we are designing the solution that we are not – - without funds.  We are just starting to see to what extent one of those – - they do not  – - you should assume – - mission of the financial investment of the – - .

MARCO WERMAN: That was Patrick de la Tour, Haiti’s Tourism Minister who is spearheading the reconstruction efforts there.  So, Joia Mukherjee, they’re designing the solutions and will eventually manage the funds when it comes in.  What do you think about that?

JOIA MUKHERJEE: Yes, I actually agree with the Minister.  I think the fact is the solution has to be designed by the Haitian government and the Haitian people.  This is a democratically elected government.  He’s saying we’re going to have other partners that are perhaps more expert in managing this large scale funds.  I don’t think any country in the world has managed relief that well.  Look at the problems that our own government had with the management of funds for Katrina.  And who can assure the vigilance?  I don’t know if it’s the World Bank.  But I think in partnership and making things as transparent as possible and as well documented as possible, we can alleviate and minimize the loss of money.

MARCO WERMAN: Dr. Joia Mukherjee, the Medical Director of Partners in Health, a non-profit aid group with community based clinics throughout Haiti, thank you for coming out.

JOIA MUKHERJEE: You’re welcome.  Thank you.

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