CHOLERA CLINIC
In October of 2010 a nationwide Cholera epidemic hit Haiti. The cumulative number of reported cholera cases to date is estimated at 470,000 of which 250,000 persons have been hospitalized, and 6,595 persons have died nationwide. The epidemic reached the Pignon region in early 2011. A Cholera Treatment Center was established with the help of Doctors Without Borders in the partially finished Materity House near the hospital compound with additional space provided in temporary tents. Hospital Bienfaisance took over the operation of the clinic when DWB left in April of 2011. The need continues as the cholera epidemic is expected to be around for several years before it is once again eradicated. Treatment and cholera prevention education continue to be a high priority for Hospital Bienfaisance.
Current Cholera Statistics:
Cases treated: 5,128
Cases released: 5,092
Currently hospitalized: 4
Deaths: 36
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| Workers spray bleach on shoes and hands. | Sheets are washed and sanitized. |
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| Overflow tents provided by Unicef. | Educational materials distributed. |
This potentially deadly disease is preventable and curable if treatment is started in time. The outbreak of Cholera has increased the financial cost to the hospital by $15,000 a month. Your donation of $100 or more is urgent and could literally save a life! Please donate now and help us treat and prevent this horrible disease.
DENTAL CLINIC
Did you kndow there are three full time Haitian dentist working at the dental clinic offering a full range of dental services?
Did you know that all children attending the eight schools supported and built by Promise for Haiti are receiving yearly checkups at the dental clinic?
Did you know that you can contribute to a dental insurance plan that will help provide dental care so all can afford it?
Did you know 6,122 patients were treated last year?
Thank you Dr. Jim Birong (stateside coordinator)and the dental team in Pignon! You are bringing healthy smiles to thousands of patients in Pignon and the surrounding areas 
MATERNITY AND WOMEN'S HEALTH 
The Women's Health and Family Planning Center provides immunization, HIV screening, along with pre and post natal care for women from all over the area. Pictured above are women waiting with their babies for check-ups, pre and post natal care and other services.
MATERNITY WAITING HOUSE
Promise for Haiti is constructing a new Maternity Waiting House with 10 bedrooms and 2 full bathrooms for expectant mothers who are experiencing difficult pregnancies. The facility would provide housing for mothers before and after delivery.
The development and use of Maternity Waiting Houses have been recommended by the WHO as a strategy for reducing levels of maternal and infant morbidity and mortality in developing countries. Among women with high risk factors, those who stayed at the MWH were 50% less likely to experinece a perinatal death than women who were not monitored and had availablity to 24 hour care. Currently, if a patient is determined to be in need of close observation but did not meet criteria for hospital admission, she has no choice but to return home. This facility would provide 24 hour care and monitoring and provide a safe and clean environment to deliver.
For more details or on how you can help, please contact Dr. Liz Babu at 516-303-6931. Donations can be made on-line by clicking any donate button on this website. Please note in the message box, that your donation is designated for the Maternity Waiting House. THANK YOU!
EYE CLINIC
A Smile Says It All!
Pictured is one of the many children whose life was touched by the efforts of the Vision Mission Team headed by Dr. Chris DenOuden. The team from Des Moines, Iowa saw 1,206 patients last year. All patients were screened for eyeglasses and glaucoma, 586 received eye glasses, 52 had cataract and laser surgeries, 250+ were treated for glaucoma and numerous patients were treated for eye injuries and infections. A wonderful gift, from Meredith Drive Reformed Church in Des Moines, provided all new glaucoma patients with a year’s worth of medicine. Sadly, there were many patients who were completely blind and could not be helped. The team prayed with all the patients and offered their encouragement and hope. Sue DenOuden offered these thoughts, “We truly were blessed beyond what we could hope or imagine.”
PROSTHETICS LAB
It was an exciting day as the new Jaipur Limb Project opened its new clinic on April 23, 2012 at Hospital Bienfaisance in Pignon. The new Jaipur Clinic is a gift from Rotary and includes the Limb Workshop, where prosthetic limbs are fitted and made, the Goose House, where visiting doctors will stay as they teach and work with patients, and a dorm for patients to stay as their new prosthetic limbs are being fitted and they are in rehabilitation. Rotary also donated a Toyota Land Cruizer to pick up patients from remote locations who will be fitted at the clinic. The first patients arrived the week of April 23 and 25 and since then over 75 patients have received new limbs. The Jaipur Project is a great addition to the services Hospital Bienfaisance provides. Pictured are representatives from the hospital and Rotary as the new clinic celebrated its grand opening. Thank you, Rotary!
Picutred is the staff with some of the new equipment for the Jaipur LimbWorkshop. From left is Alcena Sadieu, David Daniel, and Bien-Aime Edner, all trainees under the direction of Robster Nyirenda, a prosthetics specialist from Malawi, Africa who worked in Pignon for three months prior to the opening of the clinic to train staff and set up the operation. Below are more photos of the clinic as patients proudly show off their new limbs. 
BIO MED TRAINING 
On April 25, 2012 a ceremony was held for 24 students who came from thirteen hospitals in Haiti to attend Bio Med Training at Hospital Bienfaisance in Pignon. The certificates were given after completion of 4 modules. Bio Med Equipment Repair and Training was sponsored by Rotary Distrincts 5890 and 7020 (Houstan Area and Caribbean Rotary Clubs). "Haiti's first biomedical equipment repair traning program just concluded its first year of instruction with amazing succes," writes Vicki Brentin, former President of the Houston Haiti Recovery Initiative.
The first classes began in October 2011 with 24 students from 13 different hospitals in Haiti and finished the last set of classes in April with 100% of the original studetns in the program! The primary objective of the program was to establish a taining center that could draw participants from public and private medical institutions in Haiti. As a result, hospitals around the country will be able to maintain and repair existing medical equipment, reducing their dependency upon medical missions from overseas for continual replacements.
Haitian doctors will be able to offer thier patients the proper care without being hampered by malfunctioning equipment and ultimately their patients will benefit from more consisitent, reliable and timely treatment. Moreover, the program will create highly skilled jobs for Haitian Nationals. Module B will be offered in September for the recent graduates and a new entering class for up to 25 student will also begin.
Support for the first year of the program came from the Rotary Donor Designated Funds for Haiti as well as from Houston and Haiti Rotary Clubs. For more information about the program or to offer support, please contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (in Haiti) or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (USA)