Six Months Later...HOPE in Haiti

Just six months ago, the people of Haiti suffered through a deadly and destructive  earthquake that left more than 230,000 people dead and homes, schools and medical facilities in shambles. Of course, Project HOPE was there to help.

Immediately following the January 12th earthquake, Project HOPE sent more than 100 volunteer doctors, nurses and medical technicians and delivered more than $50 million of medicines and medical supplies to Haiti.

Our work continues. Groups of HOPE volunteers, including midwives, physical therapists and biomedical engineers continue to serve several medical facilities in Haiti as our focus turns from disaster relief to intermediate care to long-term health education and care programs that will help ensure those injured during the January earthquake have hope for a full recovery.

Haiti’s Minister of Health and Deputy Minister of Health have both expressed gratitude and support for all of Project HOPE’s relief efforts in their country. And with their support, Project HOPE is currently in the midst of launching a multi-year rehabilitation medicine program in Haiti to care for the more than 10,000 patients that will require long-term rehabilitative care – including more than 4,000 amputees.

Building on experiences providing rehabilitation services in the aftermath of earthquakes in Turkey in 1999 and China in 2008, Project HOPE aims to form a “Southern Rehabilitation Network,” that will include both physical and mental health components to treat and help heal those with earthquake related injuries.

Entering the recovery phase, HOPE is shifting donations-in-kind to provide equipment, medications and supplies needed by the rehabilitation initiative. HOPE is also in discussions with the Haitian Ministry Of Health to provide vaccines for national campaigns.

For more than 50 years, Project HOPE has been relied upon to provide lifesaving care and health education in times of need, as well as ongoing health support in the years following natural disasters. We did it in Indonesia after the Tsunami where debilitated health systems are now beginning to flourish. We did it in China following the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, where amputees are now receiving the care they need to live productive lives. And we will do it again in Haiti, helping to support and build physical rehabilitative services that will help amputees now, and serve the people of Haiti for years to come.