Last week, HHA were privileged to show the new US Ambassador for Haiti, Pamela A. White, around the hospital we support in Haiti, along with representatives of Chemonics and USAID. This was the second visit by a US Ambassador to our site, and a wonderful opportunity to show the Ambassador personally, the impact of USAID’s support for our initiatives over the last few years.
Since 2011, USAID funding has helped us provide the hospital with state of the art solar systems, a security perimeter wall, a major cholera prevention programme which provided care for over 360,000 beneficiaries in 3 months, and some critical building refurbishments. It was the second significant visit in the last 3 months, following on from the inauguration of our Inclusive Sports Centre, which was formally opened by the head of Haiti’s UN peacekeeping mission, SRSG Mariano Fernández Amunátegui.
The US Ambassador visited all projects at the hospital, including our maternity and paediatric unit, our respite home for children with disabilities, and our rehabilitation unit. Patients and staff proudly welcomed the delegation, and were left enthused at their opportunity to personally share their vision and thanks. Some of our spinal patients even had the opportunity to sell some of their jewelry!