Haiti Rehabilitation Centre

HHA's Rehabilitation Unit in Haiti remained functional for inpatients throughout Haiti's COVID peak, ensuring long-term rehabilitation could continue for those suffering with life-changing disabilities. Although outpatient care had to be suspended for a few months, we've worked hard to minimise the impact on the level of care available for all our rehab patients. 

Now seemingly past the worst of COVID-19 in Haiti, we are moving on with projects that will dramatically improve the outloook for thousands of people with disabilities over the coming years.

We recently received a delivery of over 300 new wheelchairs, which will be distributed to patients by our experienced team very soon. And that's just the start of a major initiative to increase wheelchair availability in Haiti - a project HHA is leading. In the new year, we are expecting another 500, followed by regular container loads and investment in our distribution processes. We're very excited about the lives that will be changed thanks to these new chairs.

One example of what a chair can do is Samuel. He was a 2010 earthquake victim and became a paraplegic. He received long-term rehab in our unit, receiving a wheelchair, and went on to become a hospital chaplain and living independently. He's a vital part of the pastoral care provided at the hospital for patients and families, which was called on more than ever this year when he worked closely with many of the COVID patients in our isolation ward.   

We hope that man more rehab patients will go on to be independent. We're sure these new chairs will help make that possible. 

Links:

• HHA Rehabilitation Unit Project

The restrictions in activity we've had to implement because of the threat of COVID-19 are mainly focussed around services with people coming in and out of the hospital. The Haiti team have been working hard to maintain the safety of core hospital services while also catering for suspected COVID cases.

As part of those changes, we had to close the outpatient rehab facility, however those receiving longer term intensive rehabilitation as inpatients have remained at the hospital and have received care throughout.

One of those is called Sony (pictured above). He was severely injured when iron gates fell on him. He's been a patient at our unit since 2019 and has been present throughout this year's COVID turmoil. Sony has made amazing progress and says 'Progress in near - you just have to have faith and believe in yourself...God will do the rest.' With this attitude, we have no doubt that Sony will find a way through his current challenges.

The inclusive sports centre which is attached to the rehab unit, and an important part of long-term rehabilitation, was transformed into a COVID isolation ward in preparation for the peak in cases. It was a loss to the patients and the rehab staff not to have use of this resource for the last few months, but with cases currently low, there are plans to move the isolation ward to another building and reinstate the sports centre.

In truth, the sports centre is in need of newer equipment so as part of the changes, we are looking to freshen up the centre and supply some newer, better equipment. If anyone can help us with that project, through connections to gifts-in-kind, or donations towards the project, we would be very grateful.

Thank you for supporting our rehabilitation work throughout thee testing times.