Haiti: Orthopedic Surgical Program

Providing Regular Monthly Surgeries: July-December 2017

March 15, 2018

Dr. Patrick Dupont, RMF Haiti Country Director

RMF Founder and CEO Dr. Martina Fuchs with RMF Haiti, CHSM, and SPEC Institute team members

RMF Founder and CEO Dr. Martina Fuchs with RMF Haiti, CHSM, and SPEC Institute team members

New Partnerships and Practices

Providing Regular Monthly Surgeries

Selection and screening of new patients continued throughout the end of the year 2017, but the first previously selected 10 children could not be treated during the December vacation because of social and civil unrest in the capital and provincial towns during the last month of 2017, coupled with the reluctance of the children’s parents to have their child taken out of school during the required 2- to 3-week postoperative period.

We took the time, however, to seek as planned additional resources and partners to promote the orthopedic surgical program component of CORE. Our team met with Minister of Health and Population Dr. Greta RoyClément, who was very interested in the whole project and connected us to other relevant public institutions which could benefit from the services we offer. After meeting with the Ministry of Health and Population and other social organizations likely to require our surgical services, RMF decided to implement a new approach and practice regular monthly surgeries, scheduled as the patients become available for treatment instead of our previous 1- to 2-week sessions.

  • To provide free clinical services at Hôpital Lambert Santé Surgical Clinic in Pétion-Ville.
  • To provide care for patients with severe conditions and deformities, while focusing on improving their overall health, functionality, and optimizing their chances to thrive as active members of their communities.
  • To increase overall access to quality secondary and tertiary care for the entire Haitian population.

In the aftermath of the January 12, 2010 earthquake, in addition to tackling some of the immediate relief needs, RMF moved forward with a comprehensive long-term strategy for sustainable health services development in Haiti to help rebuild its shattered public health system. Six years have passed since most of Haiti’s infrastructure was devastated, and while much progress has been made in rubble clearing and somewhat in rebuilding efforts, there is still much work to be done. Our new Surgical Support program is providing surgeries and follow-up treatment for children and adults in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.