Haiti earthquake two months on: HI’s emergency response continues

HI is supporting people injured by the earthquake

HI is working with a Haitian partner organisation, FONTEN, to provide support to two hospitals and a rehabilitation centre. Prior to the arrival of HI’s emergency team, the hospitals did not have the resources to offer rehabilitation services, and the rehabilitation center was understaffed and unable to meet the rise in demand.

“Having HI has made a huge difference,” says Conseulo Alzamora, founder of the FONTEN rehabilitation centre.

“The number of earthquake-related patients has risen, and our staff was also affected by the earthquake, so a lot of them were unable to come to work. Having the support of HI has been very important for us and for the community. It has allowed us to work and to do much more than we could have done on our own.”

Together with FONTEN and 7 physical therapists supported and trained by HI, the emergency response team has provided 1,200 rehabilitation sessions to people injured in the earthquake.

An overview of HI’s emergency response:

• HI’s team and partners continue to perform rehabilitation sessions to people injured in the earthquake
• Provided mobility and assistive devices to hospitals and injured patients
• HI is providing logistics support to deliver over 420 tonnes of humanitarian goods such as food, water, medical supplies, mobility aids and fuel to benefit the most affected; more than 150 tonnes have already been delivered.  
• Begun clearing rubble and debris to open access to two affected regions (the Anglais and Charbonnieres)
• Recruited and trained seven physical therapists and provides capacity support to three medical centres in the Cayes
• Coordinating with local and international organisations to ensure a holistic and inclusive response to the disaster.

HI’s next steps:

• Distribution of 1,500 hygiene kits to the most vulnerable people affected by the disaster
• Provide psychosocial support to affected communities and medical staff.