The warm, caring nature of most Haitians belies the overwhelming challenges faced by the country and its residents. These include:
- Consistent ranking among poorest countries in the world
- Gross lack of infrastructure
- Rural isolation
- Lack of sanitary systems
- Natural disasters
These issues play a major role in Haitians’ lack of access to health care. Nowhere is this more evident than in the area of maternal and child health. The inability to access pre-natal care, poor nutrition, and often unsanitary home births have lead to an unconscionable rate of infant and maternal mortality and poor early childhood health. For more than two decades, Soaring Unlimited mission station in Cap-Haitien has provided a caring ministry to the disadvantaged, orphaned, widowed and their children. Recently, mission teams helped complete a new Health Center in nearby Pister, improving access to primary health care, medicine and vaccinations. Now, Soaring Unlimited and medical professionals from the Traverse City area are working with Haitian health providers to build a Women’s Health & Birthing Clinic.
The existing Community Health Center will soon meet more of the area’s healthcare needs. Development of the Women’s Health & Birthing Clinic is in consultation with Building Goodness Foundation, an organization with global experience designing and building similar facilities. The new clinic will provide labor and delivery rooms, recovery area, education room, and quarters for staff and volunteers. A Registered Nurse Midwife will staff the clinic along with trained volunteers. Staff development and training is already underway. To donate for the cause, go to DONATE NOW.
Read the September Update 2017.