When Given Opportunity
Dr. Bélimaire Emmanuel
After graduating from Louverture Cleary in 2000, Bélimaire Emmanuel competed with 3,000 applicants to gain a seat in the Faculté de Medecine et de Pharmacie, the national medical university of Haiti located in Port-au-Prince. Less than 4% of the applicants were admitted - he was one of the successful 100! Today, Doctor Emmanuel is the medical director at the Doctors Without Borders’ Center for Rehabilitation in Port-au-Prince. Fifteen years after entering the gates of LCS, he now treats infections, diabetes, lacerations, gunshot wounds and other medical afflictions. He is one of the five doctors LCS has produced—a number that is likely to grow rapidly over the coming years, as there are currently 15 LCS grads in medical school.
The Center for Rehabilitation, on average, holds 45 victims of car accidents, sexual violence, muggings and other traumatic experiences. Many of Doctors Without Borders’ patients are brought in for emergency surgery and sent to Dr. Emmanuel for rehabilitation. Services are given free of charge. The clinic also keeps social workers and psychologists on staff to help traumatized patients re-enter society.
Dr. Emmanuel says he would like to continue his work for Doctors Without Borders because they are different from other medical clinics. A true LCS grad, he respects their independent commitment to victims of poverty, violence and natural disasters. “They are working so all human beings can have access to health ... equality with no discrimination,” he said. Fifteen years ago, Emmanuel never would have believed he would become a doctor. While attending Louverture Cleary, he lived in Cité Soleil, “the biggest and most miserable shantytown in Haiti,” he said. Many people look down upon the residents of Cité Soleil and feel they are dishonest and uneducated. Emmanuel wanted to show that was untrue, and all he needed was the opportunity to prove himself.
Louverture Cleary School gave Emmanuel the opportunity that 80 percent of the children in his neighborhood lacked. He ran with it and became a top student at the school. During his school years, visiting medical teams from the U.S. would hold free clinics at LCS. He observed their efforts and was touched by their compassion. “When I was in high school, I always said I would like to study something for which Haiti is in great needof.” Medical school seemed perfect for him.
Dr. Emmanuel said it was during his time at LCS that he received his “information for life.” Louverture Cleary taught him about community spirit, the need to serve and the importance of being aware of his political surroundings. He was not concerned simply about passing to the next level of education but rather passing the profits of his education on to others. “I believe that if you want to change a situation, it is through education and community spirit,” he said.
At the end of each school year, he visits the LCS campus and gives the graduating class an orientation to introduce them to the world of public universities and teach them how to compete for the limited seats at the national “free” university. Determination seemed to be a common theme for the life and education of Dr. Emmanuel as it continues to be for the students at Louverture Cleary. In such an underprivileged country as Haiti, it is easy to feel there is no hope. But through his continuous work with victims of violence and tragedy, Dr. Bélimaire Emmanuel avows, “I’m still an optimist.”
