Launched in 2005, WellesleyWeston Magazine is a quarterly publication tailored to Wellesley and Weston residents and edited to enrich the experience of living in two of Massachusetts' most desirable communities.
Issue link: https://wellesleywestonmagazine.epubxp.com/i/210435
good works "our babies are as important as yours" C2C clinics offer specialized care for women and their children. the child will not be vaccinated or go to school, and we know they won't thrive." There were also some riveting stories of what some Haitians had to endure to receive adequate health care. "We had a woman come from almost two hours away by a local taxi, because she heard there was good care for HIV-positive patients at our clinic," says Sheehan. "This woman was a sex worker, and she was pregnant. She couldn't be seen COURTESY OF CONTAINERS 2 CLINICS in her community because of the shame around that, but she really cared about health of her baby, and she came to us to get the medicine she needed." Another woman who had pre-eclampsia lived only a quarter-mile from C2C's Haiti clinic, but she didn't know it existed. C2C health workers saw her swollen ankles and brought her in immediately, due to her high risk. She was transferred to a specialty clinic and had a Caesarean section, which literally saved her and her baby's life. "Women are coming earlier to C2C because they know it's there neighbors on basic issues of hygiene and treatment. That's no small and they are becoming proactive about their health," says Belizaire. feat in a place where people think they can get by on dirty water." "This is the building block of a community." Another goal is to introduce health education to the population. C2C's future endeavors are looking bright, and while the need can "That's why we have community workers specifically focused on educa- seem overwhelming, the organization is focused. "We are looking at tion and health-related issues," says Miriam Christof, a member of C2C's deploying a cluster of clinics in northern Haiti, within 50 to 60 miles of board. Christof believes C2C earned credibility and trust in Haiti by each other," says Sheehan. "There is also tremendous need in Central inviting local priests to meet with them, learn of their mission, and America, specifically Honduras and Guatemala." In addition, there are many potential partners, both public and pri- were instrumental in the recruitment process," says the Wellesley resiWe l l e s l e y We s t o n M a g a z i n e | w i n t e r 2 0 1 3 / 2 0 1 4 spread the word throughout the populace. "These community leaders vate. "If there is a private enterprise or foundation that is interested in dent, who plans to travel to Haiti in 2014 to see the clinic firsthand, Southern Africa, that's ripe for us as well," Sheehan says. accompanied by her two school-aged daughters. The type of feedback C2C received from these meetings was power- The social model and business skills that C2C brings each underserved, rural community only begets positive ripple effects. ful. "The underlying message we heard from women in Haiti was 'our babies are as important as yours and so is our health,' " says Sheehan. long term, with a sustainable social business model that can be "It's true — if the mother isn't well, or dies, there's a higher percentage 164 "Together, we all lift the waters," Sheehan says. "We're in it for the replicated."