«Reaching out to all Jean-Rabelians. We love Jean-Rabel»
HISTORY
The history of the health care system in Jean-Rabel is more of a history of some institutions and individuals. These pages will explore the health system during three (3) different periods:
Period 1: Colonial Period - American occupation of Haiti(1915). Period 2: 1915 - 1945 Period 3: 1945 - Present
Notes: Many professionals of the medical field are living abroad due to the precarity of the means to ethically do their jobs. Despite their knowledge, they have chosen to migrate in the pursuit of a better life. However, luckily, a few had chosen to stay and fullfil the critical mission of saving so many lives. These pages will serve as a window in time to honor them.
From the Colonial Period to the American Occupation of Haiti (1915)
The 18th Century did not show any positive health conditions in the French colony. Commerce in the colony was flourishing, but the roads were muddy and full of garbage; dogs, pigs, and goats roam freely. The general population live in poor sanitary conditions. The slaves that constituted the majority of the population live in extreme precarity. Their home is nothing but a hut that serves as a dormitory for several individuals. For furniture, they have the "Calebasses", a sort of jar, the "Couis", wooden spoon, the "Canaris", and some luggages. The bed is made of leaves or something call a "Nattes". They work the land from sunset to sundown almost naked. Their diet consist of "Manioc", Yam, "Malanga", sweet potato, corn, rice, peas, plantain, sugar cane, etc. Occasionally, for a feast, they will have meat such as beef, pork, etc. Malnutrition is prevalent.
Medical Organization of the Colony
The colony is governed by a military chief, Gouverneur General, and a civil authority, Intendant des Finances. The colony is divided into three (3) Departments or Provinces:
1. North Department or Province (briefly covered to bring Jean-Rabel to the picture - for physical aspect see Geography) 2. West Department or Province (will not be covered here) 3. South Department or Province (will not be covered here)
The medical organization start with t he civil authority (Intendant des Finances) that assigns each department a departmental or provincial administrator. Major departmental town will have a royal physician, a royal surgeon, and rarely a surgeon general.
The role of each royal physician consist of visiting the sicks in the military hospital, to certify the health conditions of the soldiers and officers of the royal army. They assist the apothecaries, and the mid-wives. They inspect the slave ships for contagious diseases.
