From The Field - Hope For Haiti
A Little Girl’s Steps
Jennifer Lang, Program Manager, January 19, 2012
Operations Officer Stanley Liste joined the Hope for Haiti team in January 2008. A crucial part of Hope for Haiti’s Emergency Response team following the devastating earthquake in January 2010, Stanley has participated in many difficult medical cases. It is rare in Haiti – where so many lack access to healthcare, to hear success stories. It is even more rare to see a successful patient grow over several years.
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| Kidney Clerger, Feb 2009 |
Almost three-years later, Stanley was able to visit with the family and see Kidney’s progress first-hand. Today, Kidney can run and play—and even stand on one foot! As Stanley approached the house—half-built with cement and a palm tree roof, he saw Kidney running through the yard with three of her girl friends. Stanley knows Kidney’s mother, Sandra, from the marketplace where she works, and he greeted his other acquaintances from construction and family ties throughout the neighborhood.
As Hope for Haiti’s current Healthcare Program Manager, I have relied on Stanley as a liaison in numerous difficult cases. Still, my tenure here stretches only since June 2011, and I do not remember the struggles of Kidney’s handicap or her laughter after her first steps. When I talked to Stanley about what makes Kidney’s case stand out, he highlighted many factors. “Successful surgeries in Haiti require a lot of variables to come together. You need to find the right hospital, the right doctor. You need money. The medications you need have to be found in country or shipped in.”
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Hope for Haiti Tackles Water-Borne Diseases through its Clean Water Program
Jessica Jean-Francois, Program Manager, January 16, 2012
This past Thursday, Hope for Haiti and the Clean Water program’s technician, Harry Victor, were in Baradères for a routine maintenance and site visit. The Little Sisters of St. Therese Clinic in Baradères were chosen in October of 2007 as the perfect place to house one of Hope for Haiti’s 12 UV Water Purification systems. With most systems located near clinics, orphanages and schools, the system at the clinic in Baradères serves the infirmary, many church organizations and the community. Due to the large demand from the community and a rise in water-borne diseases in the general population, Hope for Haiti installed a second water purification system in the Baradères Town Center in 2009.
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| Hope for Haiti Program Manager, Jessica Jean-Francois with Water Technician, Harry Victor and Caretaker of the clinic water system in Baraderes, Roland Jean. | Hope for Haiti Water Technician, Harry Victor, speaks to Caretaker, Roland Jean, about cleaning the water system and its cistern. | System Caretaker, Laurie Monteville, holds the clean water test with Hope for Haiti Program Manager, Jessica Jean-Francois. |
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Hope for Haiti’s Public Health Program completes its final Module
Jessica Jean-Francois, Program Manager, December 8, 2011
One year ago, Hope for Haiti launched its Public Health program, designed in response to a need for preventive education in the communities we serve. One answer to some of Haiti’s most prominent reoccurring illnesses is community education on the symptoms, treatments and preventive measures related to those illnesses. The team at Hope for Haiti had an idea to train some of the best and brightest members of our partner communities to hold lessons in the schools and be a beacon of health information in their communities.
Thirteen months later, Hope for Haiti has completed its own public health manual and trained 24 community health workers on topics ranging from hygiene and nutrition to prevention of malaria, typhoid and tuberculosis. We have implemented and managed first aid kits in the 12 public health schools and have distributed over 200,000 multivitamins, vitamin A, and Albendazole to their students. These vitamins and medications promote good nutrition and battle intestinal worms. Through the public health pilot program, both the young and the old receive training on how to keep themselves safe from illnesses and diseases and how to live healthier lives.
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| Lormil Frantz, a community health worker from Grenodière, distributes Albendazole to the students at the primary school |
Thirteen months later, Hope for Haiti has completed its own public health manual and trained 24 community health workers on topics ranging from hygiene and nutrition to prevention of malaria, typhoid and tuberculosis. We have implemented and managed first aid kits in the 12 public health schools and have distributed over 200,000 multivitamins, vitamin A, and Albendazole to their students. These vitamins and medications promote good nutrition and battle intestinal worms. Through the public health pilot program, both the young and the old receive training on how to keep themselves safe from illnesses and diseases and how to live healthier lives.
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Vitamin Angels’ Visit to Haiti Highlights the Importance of Nutrition
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| Vitamin Angels founder Howard Schiffer shares a moment with Sister Denise, Director of Baraderes Nutrition Clinic | Vitamin Angels team member Paul with a malnourished child at Timoun Kontan Nutrition Clinic |
This past week, Hope for Haiti was fortunate enough to receive a visit from one of our major in-kind donor organizations - Vitamin Angels. By providing Children's Multivitamins, Prenatal Vitamins, and Vitamin A, Vitamin Angels products are a major component of Hope for Haiti’s Nutrition Program.
The team's trip began with a visit to Hope for Haiti's Infirmary Saint Etienne in Les Cayes, which serves the poorest of the poor who often travel miles by foot to see a doctor. At the Infirmary, Healthcare Director Dr. Steeve Victor oversees the distribution of Vitamin Angels products. "We distribute about 3 boxes of Vitamin Angels pre-natal vitamins to pregnant or lactating women per week - that's about 6,000 vitamins!"
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Providing relief to mountain villages: Hope for Haiti conducts joint Education and Public Health site visit to Cornette Primary School
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| Hope for Haiti staff make the long trek back down the mountain |
In Haiti there are hundreds of small villages tucked away in the mountains, far removed from the hustle and bustle of city life. Because the small paths that lead to the villages are exceptionally rocky and steep, many of the villages are only accessible by foot or on the back of a donkey or mule. Hope for Haiti actively partners with schools in these ultra-rural communities, to ensure that the needs of Haiti’s rural poor are addressed.
On Thursday, October 27th Hope for Haiti staff conducted a joint Education and Public Health site visit to the mountain village of Cornette. After completing the extremely challenging 1.5 hour hike in the mountains around Saint Louis du Sud, Hope for Haiti staff distributed Vitamin A, Albendazole and Multivitamins to the children at Cornette Primary School, while educating the school’s 43 students on the importance of personal hygiene.
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Hope for Haiti’s Emergency Response to Flooding Saves Lives
Jennifer Lang, Program Manager, October 28th 2011
It was 8pm when Father Max, Hope for Haiti’s long-term partner and regional education contact, called. “Torbeck is flooding,” he said. “Please help. The water has started coming into the neighborhood’s houses.”
The next morning, before the rain had even stopped, Hope for Haiti staff responded to the emergency with 80 Survival Buckets for the community. The buckets were designed following the 2008 deadly hurricane season and can help keep a family of five alive for one week.
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It was 8pm when Father Max, Hope for Haiti’s long-term partner and regional education contact, called. “Torbeck is flooding,” he said. “Please help. The water has started coming into the neighborhood’s houses.”
The next morning, before the rain had even stopped, Hope for Haiti staff responded to the emergency with 80 Survival Buckets for the community. The buckets were designed following the 2008 deadly hurricane season and can help keep a family of five alive for one week.
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| View from car window on way to respond | Flooding outside the Hope for Haiti office in Les Cayes |
Flooded roadway on the way to Torbeck |
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Thank You Note
Eglantina Zingg, Bibi Nunez, October 26th 2011
Tiffany R. Keuhner
President and CEO
Hope for Haiti
Peace is more than just the absence of violence. It means realizing that if we work together our lives could be different.
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Scranton Physical Therapists Train, Care, and Repair
Jennifer Lang, Program Manager, September 26th 2011
This past week, the Haiti team was joined by a group of 7 Physical Therapists affiliated with the University of Scranton. Comprised of professors, former students, alumni, and colleagues, the team included varying specialties such as Pediatrics, Orthotics, and Wound Care which were all utilized to address the varied needs of the population in Southern Haiti.
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This past week, the Haiti team was joined by a group of 7 Physical Therapists affiliated with the University of Scranton. Comprised of professors, former students, alumni, and colleagues, the team included varying specialties such as Pediatrics, Orthotics, and Wound Care which were all utilized to address the varied needs of the population in Southern Haiti.
 Therapist Barbara leading Foyer residents in "Senior-cise" Program |
 Foyer residents stretching to the beat |
 Jen stretching out a young patient at Ile a Vache Orphanage |
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Hope for Haiti Community Health Workers, a Driving Force in their Communities
Jessica Jean-Francois, Program Manager, September 9th 2011
This month, Hope for Haiti Community Health Workers (CHWs) have been holding numerous meetings in the communities they serve. These meetings are to spread useful information about illness prevention methods to their neighbors and their families. Hope for Haiti CHWs, who generally work in 12 of our partner schools, are spending the summer helping community members evade the chronic illnesses plaguing their communities. They have chosen 4 themes that best fit their community’s needs and are holding informational sessions that inform participants of the signs, treatment and prevention methods for these common illnesses.
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This month, Hope for Haiti Community Health Workers (CHWs) have been holding numerous meetings in the communities they serve. These meetings are to spread useful information about illness prevention methods to their neighbors and their families. Hope for Haiti CHWs, who generally work in 12 of our partner schools, are spending the summer helping community members evade the chronic illnesses plaguing their communities. They have chosen 4 themes that best fit their community’s needs and are holding informational sessions that inform participants of the signs, treatment and prevention methods for these common illnesses.
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Successful PPI Training Enables Needs Assessment in Two Rural Communities
Jennifer Lang, Program Manager, September 7th 2011
Hope for Haiti is proud to announce a new program as part of our Community Development Initiatives. Two of Hope for Haiti's long-term partnership communities, Ravine Sable and Tête Source of the South's rural Aquin Department, will benefit from a new push towards sustainability in holistic development.
Building upon Hope for Haiti's established partnerships in Education and Public Health, the Sustainable Communities program kicked off with a formal needs assessment. A community meeting led by the school directors at each site used a democratic process to identify qualitative needs, including increased access to healthcare, flood prevention, and better roads. The next step to address the identified needs is a quantitative assessment, through a household survey on the Progress Out of Poverty Index (PPI).
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Hope for Haiti is proud to announce a new program as part of our Community Development Initiatives. Two of Hope for Haiti's long-term partnership communities, Ravine Sable and Tête Source of the South's rural Aquin Department, will benefit from a new push towards sustainability in holistic development.
Building upon Hope for Haiti's established partnerships in Education and Public Health, the Sustainable Communities program kicked off with a formal needs assessment. A community meeting led by the school directors at each site used a democratic process to identify qualitative needs, including increased access to healthcare, flood prevention, and better roads. The next step to address the identified needs is a quantitative assessment, through a household survey on the Progress Out of Poverty Index (PPI).
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