Provide Rehabilitative Care in northern Haiti

We hope this update finds you happy and healthy during this holiday season! A lot has happened in the past few months both here in the states and in Haiti. Haiti continues to struggle with social, political and economic turmoil. Since the assassination of the president, the capital has been taken over by gangs, making it nearly impossible for goods to travel throughout the country. Because of this, infrastructure throughout the country is blocked, creating food and fuel shortages in more remote areas such as Port-de-Paix, where the STAND clinic is located. Most private hospitals and clinics have closed at this due to safety concerns and supply shortages, creating an even greater need for health care. On top of these difficulties, the southern part of Haiti sustained a 7.2 magnitude earthquake a few months ago, causing structural devastation and loss of life in an already traumatized country.

              Despite all this, the STAND clinic has remained open and continues to provide care to the community of Port-de-Paix. Following the recent earthquake, a good portion of STAND’s staff volunteered their time to travel south and help out after the hurricane. They brought many of the therapy and wound care supplies from the STAND clinic, as well as further medical and hygiene items in order to provide relief to those who were affected. In addition to providing therapeutic aide, they taught both clinicians and patients about hygiene, wound care, blood pressure management, and diabetes while there.

              After 10 days of volunteering their efforts in the south, Nicholson, Marthe and the rehab aides are now all safely back at the STAND clinic. Nicholson (Adult PT) is working hard to educate the community about COVID and blood pressure and diabetes management while he helps his patients get stronger, reduce their pain and improve their function. He has been treating many patients post stroke and is working on ideas for a group class. Marthe (Pediatric OT) is busy working with kids in the pediatric clinic to find and fit appropriate equipment, improve their mobility and teach families how to care for the kids. Our nurses are also very busy with the vitamin program, home visits and figuring out safe ways to get kids to the hospital if needed.

              Currently the STAND clinic is still running strong, but we need your help! We have not been able to send a volunteer group in 2 years due to COVID and the political environment in Haiti. Considering the current lack of government and gang situation, it is unlikely we will be able to send a volunteer group soon. These trips were our main source of revenue and without them we need YOUR help with fundraising. Our goal is to fundraise $50,000 this year to cover rent, supplies and staff salaries. Can you help us maintain our current level of service to this community? Your contributions have helped keep the STAND clinic active these past two years. Because we are one of the only clinics currently open in the northwest region of Haiti, it is more important than ever that we keep our doors open and continue to provide rehab services to the people of Port-de-Paix.

Cheers to a better 2022!