Things We've Learned...

Hello again,

So over Christmas break our group members were very busy researching Haiti and Haitian culture. I chose the topic "Healthcare in Haiti" and found that a lot of the diseases Haiti is facing today stems from the Earthquake that destroyed much of the country in January 2010. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) received funding to strengthen Haiti’s public health system post-earthquake. The CDC partnered with other organization to come up with a list of medical goals.

1) Eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV.

2) Eliminate the threat of cholera, transmission of contaminated food or water.

3) Eliminate Elephantitis, a tropical disease.

4) Ensure a robust, sustainable, self-correcting public health system.

5) Reduce the under-five mortality rate from vaccine-preventable diseases by 35%.

6) Reduce the maternal mortality rate by 30%.

7) Reduce the prevalence of tuberculosis (TB), a bacterial infection affecting primarily the lungs by 25%. 

Also, I  researched the Rainbow House (LA MAISON L'ARC-EN-CIEL ) which is a safe haven, orphanage, for children affected by HIV/AIDS. These children have a safe and loving environment. Many of them have lost a parent to AIDS or have a parent that is HIV positive. The Rainbow House was founded in the 1980’s by Robert and Danielle Penette. And, in late 2010, 50 children moved into new house property in the mountains above Port-au-Prince. Children have daily medical oversight and education and/or vocational training. Older children are mainstreamed into neighborhood schools, with the comfort of acceptance and awareness of the disease.

The orphanage also has a walk-in clinic providing AIDS education, counseling and care, eliminating the stigma of AIDS, and teaching the wider community proper treatment for the disease.

 

“Since the earthquake, the Penettes have been involved in setting up centers within tent cities that help to assess and address the medical and psychological needs of the displaced and vulnerable children, teenagers and young adults.”

Thank you for continuing to follow our blog:)

Nicole