Run a Maternity and Neonatal Unit in Haiti

From 2015-2018, HHA partnered with King’s College London in an extensive field trial of a product they developed called the CRADLE VSA. This little device is a new blood pressure monitor designed for use in low resource settings. It is more accurate than existing devices, can easily be used and understood by even non-medical personnel, and can even detect shock and other potential health problems such as malaria, alongside its main purpose to highlight potential pre-eclampsia in pregnant women.

The devices are durable and cheap and are perfect for use by community health workers in counties like Haiti. So as part of our expansion of community health services for pregnant women, we have been raising money to expand the distribution of these devices to more areas of Haiti.

Our previous work has been concentrated within the Cap-Haitien region around our partner hospital. But with some new funding, and with more work to find yet more funding, we are starting to equip health teams in wider areas - with the goal being to equip all health clinics and community health agents in the country.

This simple device works without the need for a stethoscope and shows both numbers and arrows for blood pressure. But critically it also has a traffic light system which shows exactly the course of action that needs to be taken. From the trials and previous distributions, the use of the CRADLE VSA has led to a significant increase in referrals of high-risk women. Community Health Agents are now able to identify women with life-threatening conditions earlier so that treatment can be given.

Many report that they have referred women that they would not have identified without using the CRADLE device. It is already transforming community maternal health in many parts of the developing world, and we are committed to continuing the expansion to reach thousands of other women who’s lives will be saved. 

Thank you for supporting this work and follow our news on the impact of this work in the future.

When running a Neonatal Unit in a developing nation, a constant frustration to both medical staff, and those of us tasked with finding the funding, is the perpetual lack of adequate equipment. The staff do an amazing job with the resources they have, but the truth is that not enough equipment, and old machines that break, means that tragically lives are lost.

So as part of a big push to expand and re-equip the Neonatal Unit, to better care for the high numbers of babies that’s are admitted, last year we were able to invest in several important new pieces of equipment. 

These were funded in part by Australia Aid, but also by donations from you and our other loyal supporters. Last month saw the final batch of deliveries with installation and training happening immediately. Items include new incubators, phototherapy machines, Oxygen Concentrators, CPAP breathing machine, and lots of pulse Oximeters. 

While not only providing a big boost to the hospital’s capacity to care appropriately for critical babies, these deliveries also boosted morale amongst the staff and volunteers. 

In a UK hospital, equipment is being upgraded and replaced all the time so becomes the norm for staff. But in Haiti, this type of investment in equipment is rare and a huge deal. We thank everyone who has contributed to this project helping this development to happen.

This is just the first stage of our plans for the unit. Fundraising continues so that we can expand the size of the unit to address the chronic overcrowding issues so please  continue to support as through this next phase. 

Links:

• HHA child and infant health work