Haiti Rehabilitation Centre

When the Rehabilitation Unit was built shortly after the devastating 2010 earthquake, disability rehabilitation in Haiti was almost unheard of. With the dramatic rise in spinal injuries during the earthquake, the need was huge and our unit quickly became a pioneering centre for treatment and rehab.

Thankfully there are now a few facilities in the country that can offer this kind of treatment but with spinal injury and stroke patients from across the country needing care, it is vital we work closely with the Ministry of Health and the other rehab facilities to ensure those who need it can access care regardless of where they are from.

Our Haiti team have recently been involved in transferring a patient from the south of Haiti up to our facility for urgent treatment. Here’s how one of the team described it:

’I just arrived in Port-au-Prince today from Cap Haitian, Haiti. I am working on a medical evacuation of a 34 year old lady called Yvrose, who fell and suffered a spinal cord injury. She’s paralyzed from the waist down and has no bladder or bowel control.  She’s been laying at home in this position over four months. Tomorrow I am trying to arrange a CT scan of her spinal cord ($300-500) and a medical emergency flight from Port-au-Prince to our Rehabilitation Unit in Cap Haitian ($555). Prayers for Yvrose and her recovery are much appreciated along with the resources to meet this unforeseen need.’

Many patients arrive at our Rehab Unit with seemingly very little hope. Paralysis is surely one of biggest challenges anyone can face, and in Haiti this challenge is multiplied many times. 

Yvrose will receive medical treatment and assessment, and then undergo a programme of therapies to build her strength and confidence. She will receive a wheelchair and have the chance to learn vocational skills and play para sports.

Many patients have left the unit being mobile, having a level of independence, with skills and prospects for the future. So we have hope for Yvrose that she still has a future ahead of her and we will work hard to make that happen.

Thank you fo supporting this project.