Haiti faces some of the worst healthcare challenges in the Western Hemisphere. Here are some of the biggest reasons why so many medical needs exist in Haiti.
Poverty
Many Haitian families live on less than a few dollars a day. Going to a clinic can mean no food for the family. Lack of nutritious foods makes healing difficult for those dealing with health issues. In Haiti, malnutrition is an issue for many people from birth to adulthood.
Under-resourced healthcare system
Many government clinics throughout Haiti are frequently understaffed, undersupplied, and unable to meet the needs of the communities they serve. In rural areas, entire regions go without any functioning facility.
Poor infrastructure
Impassable roads prevent medicines from reaching the clinics, leaving sick people without access to life-sustaining supplies. These kinds of roads also prevent people from visiting a clinic.
Lack of health awareness
Preventable or treatable health issues routinely become life-threatening in Haiti because people cannot access or afford medical help. This leads to a population that turns to witch doctors or herbal remedies until a crisis develops and medical help is too late.
In response to this enormous need in Haiti, CAM supplies medicines, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and other medical supplies to various clinics throughout Haiti.
Andersley was picking guavas with friends when he stepped on a pile of cinderblocks that slipped, causing him to fall and slice the sole of his foot. Due to the severity of his injury, he was taken to a CAM-supported clinic. When Andersley arrived, he had a fever and was anemic. The medical team treated his wound and carefully bandaged his foot every day. Andersley also received protein supplements that helped him recover. After seven months of daily dressing changes, Andersley’s foot is almost healed, and his strength has returned.
Spiritual needs also abound in Haiti. As people wait to be seen at CAM’s Joshua Memorial Clinic, a clinic staff member leads in singing and shares a short devotional. In this way, time and care are given to their souls before the patients receive care for their physical needs.
To help support the Medicines-for-Multitudes program, please click Donate to give a gift.
