Thank You For Your Support

Thanks to wonderful support locally and internationally, L’Hôpital de la Communauté Haïtienne provided care to thousands in the aftermath of the earthquake that destroyed much of Port-au-Prince and its surrounding areas.

In the weeks following the earthquake, up to 5,000 patients received care at HCH, including 541 surgeries. The number of injured immediately overwhelmed this 75-bed hospital. Hospital workers were victims of the earthquake themselves, so HCH was severely understaffed until medical volunteers arrived. Resources were improvised to create additional patient beds and operating rooms as well ensure proper sanitation. With donations, the hospital fed patients and hospital staff even before grocery stores and markets were re-opened. Prior to the earthquake, the hospital did not provide meals to patients, but within twelve days of the earthquake, a kitchen was donated and installed to serve warm meals.

Without the outpouring of support from donors and volunteers, the hospital would not have continued operating. Before the earthquake, the HCH collected small fees for services, but immediately following the earthquake all fees were suspended. Even though income is no longer collected, operating expenses must be paid. For instance, the running water consumption has increased beyond the well’s capacity, so the hospital must purchase truck loads of water, and diesel must be purchased to run generators 24 hours a day. The regular staff is being paid and many staff members were given assistance because they had lost their homes or relatives. HCH’s expenses from January 12th to February 12th are estimated to total 160,000 US dollars. This total does not include damaged equipment and equipment taken away by patients who had lost their homes (e.g., mattresses, sheets, etc).

Currently, the hospital is entering a new phase of care. Plastic surgeons have begun procedures to revise amputations and prepare limbs for prostheses. Medical teams are beginning to fit amputees for prosthetics. Further, the continued presence of foreign medical volunteers has increased the number of women delivering babies as well as the number of children receiving pediatric care at HCH.