HaitiEnsuring medical care for rural populations in Haiti

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Facts & figures

• Region:Latin America
• Field of action:Health
• Engaged since:2012
• Beneficiaries:50,000 residents of the Arbonite Valley
• Partner Organisation:Fondation Suisse-Santé-Haïti

In the absence of government services, our partners at Fondation Suisse-Santé-Haïti are ensuring out-patient and maternity care for residents of Plassac and Valheureux.

Goal:

Operate two mobile healthcare clinics and a maternity hospital in the Arbonite Valley, north of Port-au-Prince, to ensure access to basic healthcare services, particularly for women and children.

Objectives:

1. Prophylaxis: Provide routine vaccinations, deworming and early childhood development monitoring.
2. Health counselling: Educate and guide the public on matters of nutrition, hygiene, maternal health and family planning.
3. Outpatient services: Ensure basic medical care for the population.
4. Obstetrics: Provide medical assistance to women during pregnancy, delivery and infant early years.

Earthquakes in 2010 shattered Haiti, turning large swathes of the country’s housing to rubble and ending countless lives. In 2017, hurricane Irma swept through, further exacerbating the situation. And now, at the time of writing, Haiti lacks a functioning government. Violent crime is rampant, affecting its poorest citizens the most. Life expectancy is low and infant and child mortality is high.

In the midst of the chaos, the Fondation Suisse-Santé-Haïti continues to operate two mobile healthcare clinics to serve a population of more than 50,000 people in Plassac and Valheureux. In the absence of government services, these clinics provide basic outpatient and public health advisory services, including vaccinations, deworming programs, nutrition and hygiene information sessions, family planning services and maternal healthcare. They also operate a maternity hospital to ensure women have access to care before, during and after childbirth.