Boston – Volunteers from The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 103 of Boston were in Haiti to donate their time and talents to help provide quality health care in Haiti by wiring a new hospital in the Central Plateau after the devastating earthquake of 2010.
Dr. Paul Farmer started Partners in Health (PIH) 30+ years ago to build small health care clinics in the poorest of poor areas of Haiti. Mirabalais Hospital will be the largest Hospital in the Caribbean when it opens. It will have 300+ inpatient beds, an outpatient clinic, birthing center, dental center and a women’s clinic. It is about an hour and a half out of Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince. Not only will it give the people of Haiti first class health care, with the training and motivation provided by this project, it will hopefully lead them to long-term employment at a decent living wage, which is directly in line with the mission of the IBEW.
PIH is directly affiliated with Partners Health Care of Boston and some Boston’s Biggest and best Hospitals. Shawmut Construction’s founder, Jim Ansara, is directly involved and oversees all construction on the project. This past spring, Jim reached out to Local 103 Electrical Contractor, Sullivan & Mclaughlin, for their thoughts about undertaking a volunteer effort of this magnitude.
SullyMac principal, Hugh Mclaughlin, then reached out to Local 103 Business Manager, Mike Monahan, about putting together a group of volunteers. Mike’s response was immediate. The hospital sector of our industry has given so much to the contractors and members of Local 103 and their families. The IBEW Local 103 is not only provided with access to the world’s best health care facilities, but literally performing millions of man-hours building and maintaining the electrical systems in over 50 hospitals in their Jurisdiction. Joining PIH in Haiti was truly a no-brainer and the IBEW Local 103 couldn’t wait to get involved.
Local 103 members are no strangers to donating their time to noble causes building 15 houses for Habitat for Humanity, as well as volunteering for various charities and municipal lighting projects. The PIH volunteer effort is coordinated through SullyMac and 103. Through February 2012, when phase 1 opens, over 20 IBEW, Local 103 members will have spent at least a week in Haiti volunteering their expertise at the new hospital and some have spent much more. When the project finally opens, IBEW local 103 member, Fletcher Fuentes will have spent a remarkable six months on-site running the job.
Louis Antonellis, IBEW Local 103 Business Agent said, “We’ve traveled to Haiti, to work side-by-side with our Haitian brothers, performing all phases of electrical construction, teaching them practical NEC methods, wiring intricate life safety systems and installing X-ray and CT-scan machines. Our brothers in Haiti witnessed first-hand brotherhood and they know that union membership leads to better wages and working conditions which means a better overall way of life. “
Antonellis added, “It is impossible not to be humbled by the experience. The people of Haiti are very appreciative and supportive of the project and the volunteers’ efforts. I have truly received more from Haiti than I could ever give! Being back in the comfort of home, I will always think about my experience in Haiti whenever I turn on a TV, laptop or take a warm shower. I’ll be forever grateful for the lessons I learned about basic humanity and helping my neighbor. I think projects like this exemplify the IBEW’s commitment to the Electrical Industry and Brotherhood around the world.”