Indianapolis Recorder: Black patients and white coats: Cultural sensitivities in healthcare for Haitians in Indiana

The oil has been used in Haiti for centuries for medicinal purposes. The elders use a traditional hand processing method that includes roasting, grinding and cooking castor oil seeds.

Haitian Black castor oil is high in Vitamin E, minerals, proteins and Omega 6 and 9 beneficial fatty acids. No other oil has 80-90% ricinoleic acid which is the key to its ability to heal according to longtime-Haitian activist, Yve-Car Momperousse who created a business selling the oil.

Dugé said for Haitians coming to America, the biggest hurdle in healthcare is the language barrier.

Gelina Mascoe was born in Haiti, but has been in living in Evansville, Indiana for the last 22 years.

During COVID, she was getting calls from local hospitals in Evansville to help translate for Haitian patients.

This prompted her to create the Haitian Center of Evansville, the first official resource center for the state.

They officially opened last month.

A part of their resources to help Haitian Hoosiers is healthcare and pregnancy assistance.

Anne Dugé, who also works with the association, is a registered nurse and said she has had to be an interpreter using Haitian Creole to communicate with Haitian patients before.

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