Jennifer Lang, Program Manager – June 14, 2012
Hope for Haiti’s Infirmary Saint Etienne opened permanently in May 2009. Built out of a slaughterhouse, the Clinic originally hosted visiting medical professionals on missions to rural Haiti. The Les Cayes facility grew and developed in order to respond to the immense need of the local population. Our mission and vision with the Infirmary was to serve the poorest of the poor. So many here lack access to quality healthcare, so we tried to step in and fill that gap.
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| Bonne fete ISE 3 ans! | Janvier with his certificate of three years of service |
Today, the Infirmary has grown immensely. We now have sixteen Haitian staff members working full-time to serve over 7,000 patients per year. Our Healthcare Director, Dr. Steeve Victor, reflected on his time with Hope for Haiti in a recent meeting. After joining our team as a volunteer, Dr. Victor has been integral in the Infirmary’s success. “I.S.E. has really developed over the past three years. Even when I look at where we were a year ago, there has been so much growth and improvement.”
As the staff gathered to celebrate their work, we feasted on dinner and danced the night away to traditional Haitian konpas music. Hope for Haiti Chef and cooking school professor Carmene Alverbe baked two cakes for the team to enjoy. Five staff members were honored with certificates, acknowledging their dedication to the Clinic for the past three years. To Dr. Steeve, Miss Fildor, Janvier, Luce, and Mary Marthe, as well as to our newer staff members, we thank you for your service!
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| Miss Pierrette and Janvier dancing | Nurses Fildor and Daphnee dancing to the Kompas music |
The entire team is excited about the next three-years of ISE. Upcoming projects include construction of a new sidewalk for increased access for persons with handicaps or injuries, installation of solar power as a model for sustainable energy, and expansion of the current Chronic Care program to include comprehensive educational seminars and group support for patients suffering from diabetes. Bonne fete I.S.E.!