Haitian Health Foundation

Mesi for Helping to Load the Container!

With many volunteers, the HHF container loading was a living example of the Haitian proverb, "Anpil men chay pa lou" (many hands make light work).

Thank you to the approximately 75 HHF supporters who showed up on January 14th to help load the latest container to Jérémie!

It was a cold morning, but thankfully the wind died down for the hours that we were packing.

Recognizing the two years since the Haiti earthquake, the volunteers formed a circle and remembered all of those who were injured or killed from the earthquake. Many of our HHF employees in Haiti lost immediate family members in the earthquake, and we continue to support many of those who took in relatives who escaped the devastation in Port-au-Prince. Our thoughts are with all of those in Haiti who continue to be affected by this tragedy.

We managed to pack roofing materials for 50 more houses in Makandal, as well as cases of tuna and peanut butter, food from “Kids Against Hunger,” boxes for Save-A-Family recipients, medical supplies, new shoes, and school supplies.

Thanks to all who helped out. Without you, getting supplies from here to Haiti would take many more weeks. Mesi!

Two Years Later: HHF Reflects on Haiti’s Earthquake

Read HHF Employees’ Reflections on the Earthquake

A newborn is carried off of the dangerously overcrowded ferry from Port-au-Prince, days after the earthquake of January 12, 2010.

It’s difficult to believe that it’s been two years since the tragic earthquake struck Haiti. Hundreds of thousands of innocent people were killed or injured, and many are still living in subhuman conditions – in tent cities teeming with violence, their residents suffering from malnutrition.

In my past few visits to Haiti, I have been frustrated traveling through Port-au-Prince. With more than $5 billion pledged and raised for Haiti following the earthquake, it is heartbreaking to see this awful lack of progress. However, I am slowly beginning to see some positive changes in the capital city – for example, there appear to be fewer tent encampments in Port-au-Prince and the buildings at the international airport are slowly being renovated.

I am pleased to report many positive changes in HHF’s catchment area in southwest Haiti. As I’ve noted in the past, immediately after the earthquake approximately 120,000 internally displaced persons fled Port-au-Prince to come to the Jérémie area, and our public health department continues to monitor the inflow and outflow of earthquake migrants.

With the help of generous benefactors, HHF responded immediately to this influx, providing food, medical care, business opportunities, and other relief to these traumatized people, many of whom left Port-au-Prince with little more than the clothes on their backs. HHF has rebuilt almost 1,000 houses that were destroyed or severely damaged. Other positive changes in the area included a road repair partnership project with another relief agency, which helped to provide HHF with better access to remote villages and created temporary income for unskilled laborers.

HHF’s public health director, Dr. Bette Gebrian, says, “We remember those who died, were injured, and lost jobs, houses and, almost, their hope. But, we have been inspired by the strength of the Haitian people that we work with here to pick up and move forward.”

HHF continues to be ready for any future emergencies. Food and medical stockpiles have been replenished thanks to our many benefactors. Our prayer is for a breather for Haiti, victimized by the earthquake, hurricanes, and the very lethal cholera outbreak.

HHF appreciates and continues to need your financial support as we begin our 30th year of service to thousands of wonderful people trapped in poverty.

On their behalf, merci!

Jeremiah J. Lowney, Jr., DDS, MS, MPH
Messenger of the Poor of Haiti
HHF Founder and President

PS: HHF welcomed a number of earthquake survivors to our permanent staff in Jérémie and we are proud of their contributions to the Haitian Health Foundation. We recently asked some of them for their reflections on that tragic day; please read their thoughts about how the earthquake — and their journey to HHF — has forever altered their lives.

Pascal, a nurse, is responsible for six family members. “My life changed for the worse because all that I had was lost and I started again at zero. Although I lost my mother in the earthquake, I am better now because HHF gave me a job. All of us need to stop and pray to commemorate the day.”

Naleine, responsible for eight family members, says, “Everything changed. My house was destroyed and I lost my business and everything else. Right now, I am not too bad and not too good. I am working at HHF and this helps me to live. I have a great deal of sadness when I remember my people who died and my husband’s lost job. Since then, I alone am the woman and the man of the house, with the grace of HHF.”

Herla came to Jérémie by boat after sleeping on the street with her husband and injured toddler. HHF gave her a job as a housekeeper; she relies on this income to care for seven family members. Herla says, “I feel sad because I lost my mother and father, who had helped me a lot. I will never forget that day. My son’s lost eyesight is my souvenir. Because of the grace of Sister Maryann and HHF, I have received help: food, medical and surgical care for my child, and a job. I feel OK because my child still has a life.”

Jonas, hired as a cook, reflects, “My family helped me – I had nothing, not even clothes! I feel sad, remembering the day of the earthquake, because I was face to face with death. God saved me. Now I feel happy because I am not sick and I am working at HHF.”

Container Loading for the New Year: Saturday, January 14th

Start the new year right! Come help the people of Haiti as we load a container bound for southwest Haiti. Come be a part of a team that's been there for Haitians for 25 years!

Please join us in the New Year to pack another container with much-needed food and relief supplies to Jérémie, on Saturday, January 14th, at our Norwich office. The loading begins at 8:00 am.

To those of you who packed our two (count ‘em, TWO!) containers earlier this fall, they both arrived within a couple of weeks of each other in November—so all of the supplies, food, computers, and solar panels arrived just before or during our last group visit after Thanksgiving. So, we give thanks to all who carefully pack the containers and spend their (cold?) mornings with us!

Join us on January 14th at:

Haitian Health Foundation
97 Sherman Street
Norwich, CT 06360

Click here for a satellite map to the Norwich office.

HHF Marks World Pneumonia Day 2011

November 12, 2011, marks the 3rd Annual World Pneumonia Day. The Haitian Health Foundation has long been a leader in Haiti in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of this childhood killer. Our public health programs in pneumonia have been recognized by global health organizations and have been the subject of numerous studies and other academic research that have proven the effectiveness of our interventions over more than two decades.

Through HHF’s programs, pneumonia deaths were reduced by 50% in our catchment area, and HHF health agents have successfully treated over 70,000 cases of pneumonia (children often get it more than once).

As with nearly all of HHF’s programs, education is a strong component of pneumonia public health efforts. Click here to view Haitian Health Foundation health agents presenting a song that they wrote – the song educates families about recognizing and obtaining treatment for pneumonia.  There is a significant rate of non-literacy within our population, so HHF uses creative teaching techniques, such as songs, skits, and stories – easily remembered and shared.

Did you know…

• More than one million children die from pneumonia each year.
• Pneumonia is the leading cause of death among children under 5 years of age worldwide.
• One child dies from pneumonia every 20 seconds.  That’s 4,300 young lives lost every day.
• Most children who die of pneumonia live in developing countries, including Haiti.
• 98% of children who die of pneumonia live in developing countries.
• Illness and hospitalization due to pneumonia are preventable sources of suffering and stress, as the disease is preventable with tools like Hib and pneumococcal vaccines, and the integrated collection of steps that can be taken to protect children.

Please take a few moments to watch the following video describing pneumonia’s toll on children in poverty in the world.

ADA Humanitarian Video (New Video!)

The short video below — a great overview of Dr. Lowney’s 30 years in Haiti — was presented at the American Dental Association national convention to honor Dr. Lowney, who was recognized as the ADA’s 2011 Humanitarian of the Year. Congratulations, Dr. Lowney (and the award will pay for another house in Mackandal!).

Thanks to Jack Kenny, Jason Lamkey, and the American Dental Association for producing this video. Mesi Anpil!

Rebroadcast of 4Real:Haiti (Updated Link!)

The Red Hot Chili Peppers lead, Flea (left), and Sol Guy (right), spend a day with HHF's health agent Camseuze in rural southwest Haiti in 4Real:Haiti, airing this month on National Geographic channel.

 

There have been several recent rebroadcasts of 4Real:Haiti on the National Geographic cable channel.  Just added October 3:  To watch the full episode on the web, click here.

National Geographic describes the episode: “Flea of the legendary rock group the Red Hot Chili Peppers and host Sol Guy visit the Haitian Health Foundation, an organization that offers health and humanitarian aid to rural Haitians. … The adventure takes Sol and Flea on home-visits by horseback, to a clinic where they help out and to the stage of a health fair where Flea rocks a bass and trumpet solo.”

For those familiar with some of the faces down in Haiti, the program highlights Camseuze, HHF’s health agent in Carrefour Prince.

Even if you’ve seen this already, it will give you a great reminder of the important work that we do down in Haiti!  Check it out (and future air dates) at http://on.natgeo.com/pEq0Yd ! If you’ve never seen it, be sure to set your recorders as it gives a great look at life (and hardships) in rural Haiti.

 

 

Dr. Bette Gebrian to Receive UConn 2011 Humanitarian Award

Bette Gebrian, RN, PhD, will be awarded the University of Connecticut's Humanitarian Award on October 14, 2011, at an awards celebration in Storrs, CT.

Bette Gebrian, RN, PhD, Haitian Health Foundation director of public health, has been awarded the University of Connecticut Humanitarian Award. Established in 2005, the Humanitarian Award is awarded to honor UConn alumni who have made outstanding contributions to humanity.

For more than 20 years Dr. Gebrian has used her training and experience as a nurse and public health practitioner to lead the public health department at HHF in Jérémie, Haiti. Dr. Gebrian received both a B.S. in Nursing and a PhD in Anthropology from the University of Connecticut, and HHF’s programs reflect her combined interests in public health and anthropology.

In addition to her role at HHF, Dr. Gebrian continues to hold positions as associate clinical professor for the UConn School of Nursing, clinical instructor at the Department of Community Medicine and Health Care in the UConn School of Medicine, and nursing faculty member at The Johns Hopkins School Of Nursing.

Dr. Gebrian has been recognized by many organizations for her significant contributions to maternal and child health and community-based primary health care. Receiving this award in October, 2011, reflects her dedication to the people of Haiti and furthering the interventions and research in Haiti.

In addition to the UConn Humanitarian Award, the Rockefeller Foundation recently announced that Dr. Gebrian and Professor Judy Lewis, director of Global Health Education at University of Connecticut, were jointly awarded residencies at the Rockefeller Foundation’s Bellagio Center in northern Italy. These writing residencies support the work of scholars, thought leaders, and practitioners who share in the Rockefeller Foundation’s pioneering mission to “promote the well-being of humanity.” One of the Bellagio Center goals is to expand opportunities for poor or vulnerable people, helping to see that the benefits of globalization are shared more widely.

Dr. Lowney Awarded ADA Humanitarian of Year Award

Going back to the "roots" of his service to Haitians, in a remote outdoor clinic Dr. Lowney prepares to extract a girl's tooth as his wife, Virginia, and several villagers look on in this September, 2011, photo.

Jeremiah J. Lowney, Jr., DDS, MPH, founder and president of The Haitian Health Foundation, will receive the Humanitarian of the Year Award from the American Dental Association at their annual meeting on October 10, 2011, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Click here for more details on the ADA award.

“It is very special to receive an honor from your professional colleagues, especially for a task that has brought great spiritual fulfillment to me and my family,” states Dr. Lowney.  The award is accompanied by a grant of $5,000 to The Haitian Health Foundation. Dr. Lowney comments, “Every dollar is most appreciated and sorely needed in our quest to bring health and hope to some wonderful neighbors.”

Also this year, Dr. Lowney received the first Annual Humanitarian Award from the American Association of Orthodontists. Click here for more details on the AAO award.

Another Container On Its Way to Jérémie

Some of the volunteers on the loading line, making sure lumber gets down to Jérémie.

Merci to everyone who came to our recent container loadings in May and September!  In record time, the containers were loaded with life-saving food, medicine, and medical and construction supplies.

We appreciate all of the fine folks who gave up a beautiful Saturday morning to volunteer for the wonderful people of Haiti. All of the equipment, supplies, and food will hopefully soon be in the hands of those in need in southwest Haiti.

Mesi anpil to everyone!

HHF Golf Tournament Raises $14k

Golfers hurry to their tee times at Norwich Public Golf Course, ready to support HHF's operations in Jérémie, Haiti.

A special thank you is owed to those who took part in making the 8th Annual Dr. Jerry Lowney Golf Tournament on August 18th a tremendous success!

Twenty-six teams played the challenging fairways and greens of the Norwich Public Golf Course. The course was in great condition as always, despite heavy rain just days before.

The top two teams posted impressive scores:  Second place was 14 under and the winning team came in at an amazing 16 under par, with two eagles on par 4 holes.

Recent rains made for a pristine course, enabling team scores from 16-under to, ahem... no score card provided (and our imagination runs wild with that score!).

If you feel intimidated by those scores and are thinking of participating next year, just know that two teams scored higher than 80, and one team never turned in a score. This tournament is truly for everyone!

The most important part is that the event raised over $14,000 for HHF’s support of the people of southwest Haiti. We are very grateful for this generosity, especially in the middle of a tough U.S. economy.

On behalf of our neighbors in need in Haiti, thank you again.