Checklist

1. Passport: Get an up to date passport. This can take 6-12 weeks. A visa is not required. Make a copy of your passport and hide this in your luggage. Your actual passport should be carried on your person at all times.
   
   
2. Vaccines and Health Precautions: Update your Hepatitis B immunization. Begin Hepatitis A injections. The CDC recommends a typhoid vaccine. Discuss malaria prevention with your primary care practitioner. There are no resistant strains of malaria in Haiti. HIV in Haiti is not a major concern for volunteers at this time. In both Hinche and Port-au-Prince, HIV chemoprophylaxis protocols exist for accidental exposures. However, universal precautions remain the primary prevention: observe them carefully.
   
   
3. Flights: Make your flight reservations well in advance. Your destination is Port-au-Prince. You need to arrive in PAP no later than noon on the Saturday your week begins. This will often require you to stay overnight in Miami or Ft. Lauderdale.
   
   
4. License required: Mail your current license to Nadene Brunk, 8008 Gardenwood Terrace, Richmond, VA 23227. Your practice in Haiti must align with your licensed skills.
   
   
5. Funding: You are responsible for your trip costs. Ask your coworkers, faith community, employer, etc. to help fund your trip. In addition to your flight costs, you will need $700-$800 dollars per week of travel. (add an additional $500 for each additional week).
   
   
6. What to pack: You should not plan to take more than 2 suitcases. You are easily permitted to have two 50lb. bags. Do not carry an obvious “purse”. Have a personal bag or backpack that you will carry with you at all times in Haiti. Items to take: insect repellant (DEET is recommended), sunscreen, camera, towel, washcloth, water bottle to fill each day, toiletries, sunglasses, scrubs to wear in the clinic, comfortable walking shoes, mosquito net (In Hinche, a freestanding is best; In Cite Soleil, a hanging net is best. A great hanging net can be purchased from Academy Sports, the $8.00 Timber Creek canopy that is square cut at the top), respectful clothing (most Haitian women wear only blouses and skirts, or dresses. Do not take short shorts).
   
   
7. Medical supplies: You should take the supplies you need to practice with you:
• stethoscope
• blood pressure cuff
• headlamp
• gestational wheel
• tape
• gloves
• Doppler, if you have one
  

      Supplies always needed:
• Suture – 3-0 vicryl on a CT1 needle
• Suture – 3-0 monocryl on an SH needle
• Handsanitizer
• Multi-vitamins
• One printer cartridge per volunteer (HP#21)
• Soap
• One 9 volt battery per volunteer
• Pregnancy tests and urine dipsticks
• Snack size ziplocks
• Antacids
• Tylenol
• Amoxicillin
• Bactrim
• Iron
• Albendazole
• Chloroquine
• Flagyl
• Macrobid
• Cord clamps
• Gloves
• Surgical towels


8. Other Supplies: In Hinche, you may be staying on the grounds of an orphanage. You can take small toys or things you can give to some of the over 100 children who live there. School supplies or other fun things are welcome.
   

Last updated April 17, 2010