With support from Qiagen corporation, Family Health Ministries was able to purchase a pathology lab equipment. Recruiting a pathologist is difficult in Haiti; there were very few in the country in Fall 2009.
FHM's negotiations with GHESKIO to house the lab were interrupted by the January 12, 2010 earthquake. And, some of the equipment was destroyed in the earthquake. However, FHM will resume the pathology lab as soon as possible.
Duke pathology technician Wayne Terrell (above left) coached FHM's research coordinator, Jackie Ndirangu, on the appropriate equipment for the lab. Mr. Terrell is pictured with Haitian pathologist Dr. Claude Pierre who visited FHM offices in Durham in August 2009.
Dr. Pierre had the opportunity to meet with Dr. Stanley Robboy (right above), Duke's Chief of Diagnostic Services with a special interest in gynecologic pathology. Dr. Pierre also received training on new pathology lab equipment from Duke resident Sara Jiang (left above).
FHM is hoping to build a collaborative relationship with Dr. Pierre as we work together with Dr. Delson Merisier on cervical cancer prevention work in FHM's clinic in Leogane and with Dr. Junior Duliepre in FHM's expanded cervical cancer prevention program in the Blanchard and Cite Soleil communities in Port-au-Prince.
There are only 10 pathologists serving 9 million Haitians. Often these pathologists work in the worst of conditions, without electricity or adequate supplies, people, and time. FHM's new pathology lab will combat this challenge.
