Provide Rehabilitative Care in northern Haiti

Hello STAND family!

We hope this update finds you warm and healthy! These past few months have been very busy at the STAND clinic for both our pediatric and adult teams! Unfortunately, Haiti is still grappling with gang violence and economic instability, forcing us to close for a short period in 2022 due to safety issues. During this time our nurses tried to do some home visits when it was safe, but we were not able to consistently go into the community. Fortunately, the tide is turning in Port de Paix and there is far less violence now than a few months ago. That being said, we have beefed up security at the clinic as well as for our nurses when they go on home visits. Your support is what kept the clinic open during this time and although our staff were not physically in the clinic, they were still participating in continuing education and we were able to pay them. 

We re-opened in September of 2022 and the clinic is THRIVING. We are excited to announce that we hired two new physical therapists for the adult program! Samantha comes to us from Faculte des Science de Rehabilitation de Leogane, where she finished her degree in physiotherapy. Samantha describes herself as passionate for the physical therapy profession as well as for helping people. She is hopeful to take on a leadership position to improve community health outcomes in Port de Paix.  

Sainfolia, our new rehabilitation technician, describes herself as passionate for the physical therapy profession as well as for helping people. She worked with STAND previously and is excited to return.

Together this dream team has seen 99 different patients since the clinic reopened in September. In that time they successfully treated and discharged 20 patients and currently have 79 adult patients on the roster. Their current patients have a wide range of ailments from lower back pain and rotator cuff injuries to strokes, diabetes, and wounds. Samantha and Sainfolia treat them all! The clinic days are long, but both women love it and have been out and about in the community promoting the clinic to encourage more patients to come seek help at the STAND clinic. 

The pediatric clinic is all hands on deck these days as well. Family education started back up this past Friday after a hiatus due to the safety issues. There were 150 families at the event! Education focused on nutrition, hygiene, and basic wound care. These meetings occur once a month with the goal of engaging more of the community to help improve overall health and well-being. 

Additionally, the pediatric crew finished up a 6-week mobile clinic in which many traveled to the western part of the country to assist with rehabilitation needs and education. During this time they handed out 40 walkers, 41 wheelchairs and cemented partnerships with 2 clinics in the western part of the country. This networking will be key in helping to improve rehabilitation throughout Haiti and STAND is taking a leading role in this. 

Thank you all again for your support! Although we have not physically been able to take teams to Haiti since 2020, the clinic is thriving and it is because of you. Not only are we busy, but  also making a difference in Port de Paix and beyond by partnering up with clinics in other parts of the country. Without your support this would not have been possible, especially during these troubling times in Haiti. Your continued support will allow us to hire more clinicians, expand our clinic and better serve the community to improve health outcomes. 

Stay healthy and thank you again! Mesi anpil!