PALM BEACH POST'S EXTRAORDINARY MULTI MEDIA EXPOSE, HEROES OF HIV/HIV IN THE CARIBBEAN, FOCUSES ON HIV IN HAITI & FEATURES HEALTH THROUGH WALLS' WORK AT THE NATIONAL PRISON...HAS GIVEN THIS ISSUE WIDE EXPOSURE. IT CAN BE SEEN ONLINE, ON YOUTUBE, ON PBS & AT THE SILVERDOCS FILM FESTIVAL IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
Note: In June 2008 the House Call in Hell video of our work in Haiti's national prison will be screened at the International Silver Docs Film Festival in Washington, D.C. (see synopsis below as well as updates on the prison) (www.silverdocs.com). This video also reviewed national exposure when it was aired on PBS television.
ARTICLE:
HIV Hidden Behind Prison Walls
By Antigone Barton, Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
From Heroes of HIV, HIV in the Caribbean
http://alt.coxnewsweb.com/palmbeachpost/hiv/articles-haiti-prison.html
VIDEO:
House Call in Hell
http://alt.coxnewsweb.com/palmbeachpost/hiv/interactive.html?section=haiti
As seen on YouTube:
House Call in Hell
http://youtube.com/watch?v=w16InFSd2vc&feature=user
MULTI MEDIA:
To view all pieces on Haiti from the Palm Beach Post expose Heroes of HIV, HIV and the Caribbean see
http://alt.coxnewsweb.com/palmbeachpost/hiv/interactive.html?section=haiti
BACKGROUND ON HOUSE CALL IN HELL:
House Call in Hell
Total Running Time: 9:15
Director/Producer: Stephen Sapienza
Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting / Azimuth Media
Synopsis: Horrible overcrowding at the Haitian National Penitentiary is exposed by Florida’s Dr. John May as he delivers surplus medicine and much needed supplies during one of his bimonthly trips to the prison. All the footage was shot by Stephen Sapienza in one day and the film is part of an online series about HIV in the Caribbean which can be found at www.palmbeachpost.com/heroes
Photo: Gary Coronado, Palm Beach Post
UPDATES ON HAITI'S NATIONAL PRISON
• Documenting the conditions at the prison helped nudge USAID to authorize emergency funding of $200,000 for infrastructure support related to health and sanitation.
• USAID funds will go toward construction of a new health unit within the prison. The architectural plans are completed, the money has arrived in-country, and bids are being solicited for the construction. They hope to begin the work within 60 days.
The US Ambassador to Haiti gave special recognition to Robinson Cadet, the US Corrections Advisor working for the UN, for his development of the "Titantic Plus" initiative. She also recognized Dr. John May’s work and the initial $25,000 donation by Dr. Rudolph Moise.
•
The prison population continues to increase. As of last week, it exceeded 3,600. Only 150 have complete court hearings and received sentences.
• Beri-beri, a deficiency of thiamine (vitamin B1) has returned to the prison.
• The patient in the video identified with HIV was started on antiretrovirals and began to improve. Later, he was found to have tuberculosis, and was released from prison because he required hospitalization due to an extensive collection of fluid in his lungs. His hospitalization is being supported by Dr. May’s non-profit organization Health Through Walls (www.healththroughwalls.org )