Supporting a vast range of neonatal services, ensuring the world’s poorest have access to life-saving healthcare
Haiti:
The majority of global infant deaths occur in the developing world, most caused by preventable health situations. Haiti has the highest rate of infant mortality in the western hemisphere. 1 in 39 babies won’t survive their first month and those born prematurely only have a 50% chance of survival. We support the running and development of community health programs and a leading hospital in North Haiti, which employs 270 Haitian staff and treats over 20,000 patients a year.
Neonatal Care:
HHA support one of the leading pediatric and neonatal units in North Haiti, a 30+ bed facility helping to reduce infant mortality rates. Babies born prematurely or critically sick are brought from miles around to our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Being one of very few NICUs in North Haiti, the need for such a specialist facility is very high. With so many babies requiring care at any one time, the unit is regularly operating beyond its capacity. HHA has plans to extend the unit to provide even better care for sick babies.
Project Start Date: 2012
Safe Births: 1600+ each year
Lives impacted: 621 Babies discharged from the NICU in the last year
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Haiti Neonatal Case Study
Davilma lives around 40 minutes from our hospital and recently gave birth to her 3rd child prematurely, at just 31 weeks. This is Davilma’s story:
‘At my prenatal visit, the doctor was doing an ultra-sound and she noticed something strange so she asked me how I was feeling. I said I've been having lower stomach pains frequently so the doctor said I would need to stay at hospital. I gave birth at 7 months and one week, which means my child is premature.’
As well as the baby being premature, Davilma also faced a fight for survival during the birth: ‘I almost died as well, I lost a lot of blood.’
Davilma’s baby boy was small and weak, and the doctors were not confident he would survive. But, through the excellent care of the Neonatal staff, Davilma’s prayers were answered. Her baby is responding to treatment and is feeding well. He has a positive future ahead.
