At 6 a.m. patients begin to arrive and wait for clinics to begin. By Denise Kelley For the past 25 years CRUDEM's Hopital Sacre Coeur has provided essential medical care to the poor of Northern Haiti. But to better understand and appreciate the positive impact the hospital has had on the country and its people, first a few facts about Haiti. The name Haiti means "the land of the mountains". It is a very beautiful place in spite of being the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. An estimated 80% of the 8.6 million people live in abject poverty per capita annual income is US $480.00 according to the World Bank. Haiti has the lowest life expectancy in the Western Hemisphere -- 54 years for women and 51 years for men. One in five children dies before age two due to easily treatable conditions such as diarrhea and dehydration. Malnutrition affects 35% of children under age five. Many people do not have access to safe drinking water, sanitary sewer systems and electricity. More than two-thirds of the labor force have no formal jobs, 60% of the population, particularly in rural areas lack access to basic healthcare services. Against this dismal backdrop, Hopital Sacre Coeur is a remarkable sign of hope. The largest employer in the area and the only reliable medical provider, it offers outpatient clinics, full maternity services, pediatric services, and a comprehensive HIV/AIDS program. Its Nutrition Center works with malnourished preschoolers. Patients treated through the Community Health project have tripled since 2002. Nine public health nurses and twenty 'health agents' serve the region and reach 150,000 people with vaccinations, pre-natal care, and other medical treatments. Since 1986, the hospital has grown from 10 to 64 inpatient beds. The numbers of patients treated on site has doubled in the past five years. Last year over 57,000 out-patients were treated, 1,000 surgeries were performed, 4,000 patients were admitted and 1,322 babies were born that would otherwise have been born in mud huts with no medical support or follow up care. There is no pharmacy or laboratory in the area, so last year the hospital filled 148,000 prescriptions and completed over 72,000 lab tests. Haiti has a long way to go to see vast improvements in the country, but H pital Sacr Coeur is working to improve one life at a time in spite of the challenging circumstances. Over the past two decades hundreds and thousands of lives in the North of Haiti have been literally saved and positively impacted by the presence of this hospital but the need increases and so does the work. As part of CRUDEM's mission, all those in need of care are treated - no one is turned away for lack of ability to pay. The majority of patients can only make a small contribution towards the care they receive; 50 cents to see a doctor and $6 for delivery of a baby. In 2007, patient contributions accounted for 40% of CRUDEM's expenses; fundraising covers the remainder. In 2008, CRUDEM must raise over $1.5 million in addition to soliciting $2.5 - $3 million in donated medical supplies. At times such as these when four hurricanes have had a devastating effect on Haiti, expenses increase rapidly. For example, the cost of gas has risen from $4 to over $15 US per gallon in the past few months. In recent years CRUDEM has explored a fundraising concept called "Taste of Haiti." The first "Taste of Haiti" event took place in St Louis and the idea quickly spread to Boston (September 2008) and Washington (October 2008). A similar event called "Celebrate CRUDEM" takes place each December in Hampden, MA. We plan to expand to other areas where we have a strong and active volunteer base. Very often Haiti has a very negative image in the press and justifiably images of poverty come to mind when one thinks about Haiti. The purpose of the "Taste of Haiti" event is to raise funds for the hospital's operations and to give attendees a positive and upbeat experience, literally a taste of Haitian food, music and culture. "Taste of Haiti" showcases the wonderful cuisine and rich cultural traditions of a nation that loves to sing, dance and celebrate life. If you would like to attend the Celebrate CRUDEM event December 6, please email Joni Paterson at crudemjoni@peterjkellymd.com. For more information on the CRUDEM Foundation please visit the website www.crudem.org. |
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