• Support in Times of Crisis

    Although Konbit Sante is not a relief organization, we do provide support in crisis situations, such as following a natural disaster.

    The year 2010 brought two back-to-back, catastrophic crises to Haiti: A 7.0-magnitude earthquake and an extremely aggressive and virulent cholera epidemic. These two events caused unprecedented, widespread destruction, injury, and loss of life. Because Konbit Sante had at this point almost a decade-long, continuous presence in Haiti, we were able to immediately assist the Haitian government, our partners, and relief agencies as they responded to the crises.

  • Earthquake Response

    We knew that our partners working for the Ministry of Health in Cap-Haitien would need more resource and logistical support than usual to deal with this unprecedented situation. We took steps to meet immediate needs and put plans in motion to address the long-term needs as well, including:

    Photo Courtesy Gregory Rec/Portland Press Herald

  • Raising almost $500,000 through our earthquake response fund

    Co-chairing an ad hoc Health Commission formed by the Haitian government to coordinate earthquake response in the north

    Purchasing fuel to help transport earthquake victims from Port-au-Prince to North Haiti for care

    Expanding support to include health partners from the Haitian private sector in neighboring communities, including Hopital de la Convention Baptist d’Haiti (HCBH, also known as Haiti Baptist Convention Hospital) in Quartier Morin.

    Collaborating with Hope Health Action to complete construction of a 20-bed rehabilitation facility at HCBH to aid earthquake victims with spinal cord injuries

    Strengthening and expanding relationships with NGOs that build health promoting-infrastructure, e.g., SOIL, Direct Relief International, HOPE International Development Agency, and MINUSTAH–North

    Paying hospital fees at Justinien University Hospital for more than 600 earthquake victims, assuring their care and giving JUH revenues to operate at a time when it was not receiving any from the Haitian government

    Training of, and providing funding for, a wound care nurse at JUH

    Funding a local group, Action Sanitaire, to provide social and mental health outreach services to area communities

    Bringing in volunteers with defined specialties, including a trauma surgical team

  • Cholera Response

    While the earthquake’s epicenter was near Port-au-Prince to the south, the cholera outbreak of 2010-11 originated farther north. Thus, Konbit Sante’s health partners were quickly overwhelmed. As with the earthquake, we immediately took action, including:

    Partnering with the Haitian Ministry of Health, HCBH, and Doctors Without Borders to build, staff, and supervise a 200-bed cholera treatment center at HCBH

    Purchasing water testing kits and 1.4 million Aquatabs for water purification

    Training 120 field agents in cholera response and establishing 59 early treatment and prevention posts in neighborhoods throughout Cap-Haitien

    Conducting water surveys of drinking sources for people in the Greater Cap-Haitien area, and providing recommendations on disinfection

    With support from MINUSTAH, completing construction of a building at Justinien University Hospital that would become part of a permanent, on-site cholera treatment center

    Building new showers and toilets for JUH patients and caregivers, and renovating the hospital laundry area with support from WHO

  • Konbit Sante’s long-term presence in Greater Cap-Haitien positions us as an important partner in times of future crises, and we will continue to provide support as necessary.

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