On Jan. 12, 2010, the southern peninsula of Haiti was hit by a 7.0 earthquake. The destruction left in its wake has killed an estimated 250,000 people and has left hundreds of thousands homeless. The current health situation is dire, as the number of injuries far outweigh the ability of the affected population to access treatment and care. The long term health situation is also grim as many clinics have been destroyed and millions have been displaced to rural areas, some with a poor health infrastructure.
What is the St. Boniface Haiti Foundation doing to help?
Just like we did when the hurricanes came, the St.Boniface Haiti Foundation is once again leading the way. We are currently working with the USNS Comfort, UNICEF, Ministry of Health, World Health Organization and CRS on behalf of the Haitian people. Thanks to you - our donors, our partners, both at home and abroad we are doing the following:
Accepting into our community, families and injured who have been forced to migrate from Port au Prince.
Receiving patients from the USNS Comfort.
Preparing to set up 80 mobile clinics in our catchment area to provide health care, nutrition assessments, potable water and vaccines.
Preparing to provide 8,000 children with Ministry of Health's recommended vaccines and Vitamin A.
Preparing access and follow-up for 500 children in St. Boniface target populations.
Providing prenatal services to 2,000 pregnant women to help prevent neonatal mortality.
Providing supplemental micronutrients for 8000 children 6-59 months of age and for 2000 pregnant and lactating women.
Accepting severely malnourished children from Mother Therese's Home in Port au Prince.
What can you do to help?
Just like you did when the hurricanes came, you were there for us. Your support up to this point has been amazing. We have heard from people all over the country and from far away places too numerous to mention.
We ask that you sit tight while the professionals do their work. Everyone wants to volunteer and lend a hand, but most of us would just get in the way. If you are a doctor, nurse, x-ray technician we would like to hear from you. If you are a structural engineer we desperately need your help.
The devastation in Haiti will take years to heal. We want you there for the long haul. Please know that your financial and long term support is the best remedy to fix this broken and battered country. The Haitian people have tremendous character, resilience and, most of all, great faith. That faith in God will forever remain strong and the St. Boniface Haiti Foundation will be right there working beside them.
Thank you again for all you do! You are truly saving lives.
By Marie Nancy Seraphin, MPH - Monitoring & Evaluation Officer
Throughout a two week evaluation, we were able to access the program's efficacy in the field. We also got a unique perspective on St. Boniface's other programs and services in the 16 communities we visited.
We are distributing food in 42 different communities in Fond des Blancs and Villa, and have reached 7000 young children and 4000 pregnant and lactating women - 11,000 people.
This week, people have transferred from their beds to their chairs, learned liberating self-care techniques creating a renewed sense of independence, and some have even taken their first few steps.
