Haiti Rehabilitation Centre

One of the most important factors in a patient’s recovery, after a disability, is the involvement and support of the family. Usually the patient’s family are the caregivers and play a very important role in the rehabilitation process. Our patients all have at least one family member with them during rehabilitation. Because of their vital role during rehabilitation, it is important to us that they as well are taken care of.

Over the past two weeks, we had an incredible team from the UK come and work with us to improve the daily living situation of our patient’s families. They built a beautiful covered kitchen area, where food can be prepared in a dry, clean environment. It is even wheelchair accessible if patients want to cook for themselves!

A new paved area allows them to sit and spend time with their family members, in a nice surrounding with shade and new plants. By giving them more space, and area to “feel at home” while caring for their family members, we hope to make it a bit easier on them to take on the task of learning how to care and cope with someone after a disability before they go back to their homes.

We were also delighted to have rehab patients, both current and former, be part of the hospital's 10 year celebrations in January. It was a celebration for everyone who has both contributed to, and benefitted from, our hospital in the last 10 years. Patients like Fritzner were present who battled life threatening injuries and learnt how to cope without the use of his legs, going onto represent Haiti at the World Hand-cycling Championships. He is now a paid trainer at the inclusive onsite gym and is an important part of hospital life. These are the success stories we are celebrating in our 10th Anniversary Year. 

Thank you so much for making this possible!

Links:

• HHA Disability care

One of the frustrations the rehab staff face is how to give long-term patients an independent and sustainable life once they finally leave the hospital. They can treat the medical problems, they can build confidence and they can teach new skills. But when a patient is discharged to a community with very few jobs for able bodied people, let alone those with disabilities, it can seem like a uphill struggle.

But total rehabilitation remains our goal and that's what we aim for with every patient. This includes helping them with housing and work. When a patient, who has been in the hospital for many years, leaves and flourishes it is a joyful feeling for everyone involved.

Herode is an example of really positive progress and how the programme we have in place can give rehab patients their lives back.

Herode was a patient for 5 years, having been admitted after a stab wound left him partially paralysed. He has no family and took a long time to come to terms with his situation. He had very low self-esteem and his outlook was concerning. Finding a positive outcome for patients with no other support can be particularly challenging so the progress Herode has made is truely remarkable.

Recently Herode left the hospital to live independently nearby. Showing how far his confidence has come, he then approached the hospital and secured a permanent job looking after the new toilet/shower block at the rehabilitation unit where he had been a patient. 

This kind of outcome shows what can be achieved with a holistic approach to rehab. HHA thanks you so much for your support of this project. 

Links:

• HHA disability care work