Matthew Goodwin: People need to understand true plight of Haitians

Many of life’s greatest opportunities lay hidden, disguised as changing plans and unexpected situations.
When I had to defer the start of medical school for a full year because my PhD research at Auburn was not finished, I did not know what awaited me. I soon finished my research and then accepted a six-month research internship working at an HIV/AIDS clinic in Port-au-Prince (PAP), Haiti.

Haiti, the poorest country in the western hemisphere, is the only modern country to arise out of a successful slave revolt. The people are resilient, resourceful, and tough. They also smile, tell jokes, love their families, and try to live good lives, just like you and me.

Of course, many of the things said and written about Haiti, and PAP in particular, are true: The crowds and filth are overwhelming; you must watch your wallet and learn the local language if you are to navigate the city; and be prepared to refuse beggar after beggar everywhere you go, especially if you are white. But for me the most challenging aspects proved to be deeper issues.

One day in the clinic proved particularly challenging. When asked if they had more than one partner, women would usually reply “no.” But then when asked about their husband, many calmly replied that he has many partners. If asked about their husband’s condom usage, the answer was often “never.”

After we explained the risks inherent in this behavior, one response from a woman was “God will protect me, I am a Christian.” Our next patient said, “My husband is a Christian and says the Bible says not to use condoms.” And by another woman we were told, “If I get sick, it is God’s will.”

These were some of the most devout women I had ever met.

Most of them had never been to school. Illiterate, yet they persisted with unparalleled faith. This surprised me because I had heard religious U.S. citizens describe Haiti as dark and unreligous, having turned its back on God. This issue of faith overriding evidence/science came to light again later in the year, when in a meeting with some of the clinicians an argument broke out as to whether mission work was harmful.

Several physicians were claiming that with missionaries came more patients claiming that prayer would heal any malady they might face, and thus HIV prevention and other health measures mattered little. Unfortunately, many poor patients cannot read to learn that zero percent of HIV cases have been healed through prayer alone (even when that HIV is contracted from the mother at birth).

While there is no doubt mission work has provided much relief and aid throughout history, it is paramount that missionaries and others understand both the culture they are entering and the role that medicine and logical, evidence-based thinking plays in helping the world’s poor. When patients believe prayer instead of medicine will heal them, they pay for it with their health, their lives. They deserve better.

There is no doubt that Haiti is dangerous in many ways, and not everyone should visit. But if you can visit, meet the people and learn the culture. You might be surprised at what you find: people that laugh and cry. People that tell jokes and work hard.

People just like you in so many ways, yet so very different.

Too often we look down at third base and think we hit a triple, when really we were born there. Most Haitians were born in the dugout, hoping just to get up to bat.

Matthew Goodwin completed his PhD at Auburn University in 2008 and is enrolled at Weill Cornell Medical College in
New York City.