Last year, about fifteen thousand Haitian migrants made their way from Central and South American countries to come to the US-Mexico border. Over two weeks, U.S. Border Patrol agents expelled nearly all of them. A few lucky ones were allowed to enter the United States and have their requests for asylum or other permission to remain in the country evaluated by U.S. immigration judges.
Those fortunate migrants, after being freed from the giant migrant camp under the international bridge in Del Rio, Texas, needed to start a new life in the USA. Many of them have chosen Miami-Dade County (Florida), where there is a well-established Haitian Community.
The needs and health issues of refugees in the United States vary greatly depending on their country of origin, their experiences during their travels, and on the living conditions they face once settled into the U.S. Those asylum seekers who become ill and contract diseases during their long travels and the stress they experience can be extremely detrimental to their mental health. Some are arriving with tuberculosis, Hepatitis B, or malaria. Many are malnourished and have weakened immune systems.
This is where the Center for Haitian Studies, a community health center located in Miami, becomes so valuable for those new arrivals. This non-profit organization has been monumental in helping the vulnerable residents of Miami-Dade County, who, for the most part, have no other means of receiving healthcare from some of the best specialists in the region. Read more...