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.
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
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