Haiti: 11 years on, HI continues to ensure access to rehabilitation services for people with disabilities

On January 12th 2010, Haiti was devastated by an earthquake which killed 230,000 people and injured over 300,000 others.

In the wake of this disaster, Humanity & Inclusion (HI) mobilized up to 600 people and deployed unprecedented levels of resources to assist those affected by the earthquake. HI provided 90,000 people with rehabilitation care, 1,400 people with orthopedic fittings and 25,000 people with psychosocial support. HI's teams also built over 1,000 shelters for extremely vulnerable families and supplied over 20,000 tons of aid for people affected by the disaster.

Sustainable projects

Eleven years after the earthquake, HI continues to support the Haitian population by developing long-term projects.

"In 2010, when the earthquake hit Haiti, there were hardly any rehabilitation services in the country. With support from HI, the first training course for rehabilitation technicians was set up after the earthquake, which now means people can access rehabilitation therapy sessions in different infrastructures. HI continues to support health structures, making rehabilitation centers accessible to all and providing qualified medical staff,"

explains Sylvia Sommella, HI's Director in Haiti.

What has HI achieved?

• Implemented until 2016, a project trained 86 new experts, who now work in Haiti to provide long-term support in the country. HI continues to train rehabilitation technicians, improve the skills of physical therapists (through virtual e-learning courses) and facilitate access to quality rehabilitation services in hospitals and communities. HI also provides support to health systems.
• In Haiti, a significant amount of the population lives remote areas where little help has been provided. HI works with these families in isolated areas so that they can prepare for and protect themselves against another natural disaster.
• HI provides organizations with a maritime transport and humanitarian aid storage service to help improve access to people in remote areas during natural disasters or emergency situations.
• HI’s teams also implement projects to promote economic self-reliance, fight the COVID-19 epidemic and improve road safety.