Since its founding over 20 years ago, PIH/ZL has made significant investments in its facilities, nearly all of which are located in Haiti’s outlying Central Plateau and Artibonite regions, as a part of our efforts to assist the country’s rural poor. The resulting combination of planning, good fortune, and good construction left Zanmi Lasante’s facilities largely unscathed by the earthquake.
But immediately following January 12, these facilities were pushed to their capacity and beyond as the injured streamed out of Port-au-Prince seeking treatment. In response, we have been expanding and upgrading existing facilities in addition to adding new ones. And as renovations and construction go on, we continue to serve the tens of thousands of internally displaced people who migrated to ZL’s catchment area.
PIH/ZL reacted swiftly to the emergency by repairing any minor damage at our facilities, accelerating many infrastructure projects, and continuing projects promised prior to the earthquake. In the last six months, the infrastructure team has continued to make earthquake-related improvements to clinics in Cerca La Source, Thomonde, and Boucan Carre, and in the maternity ward of the ZL-supported hospital in Petite Riviere. The team also completed construction of a much-needed administrative facility in Petite Riviere. At the PIH/ZL-supported hospital in St. Marc, the team rebuilt the surgery ward, refurbished several operating rooms, and renovated a new ophthalmology facility.
And in a step toward securing reliable power and reducing energy costs, solar arrays have been installed at PIH/ZL supported clinics in Hinche and Cerca La Source with the help of the Solar Electric Light Fund (SELF).
Other long-term projects have advanced rapidly. Bottled oxygen had often been in short supply in Haiti, and was broadly needed immediately following the earthquake. PIH/ZL purchased an oxygen concentrator that will provide a consistent supply of oxygen tanks to all its supported sites. And, in the midst of this crisis, PIH/ZL continued with existing plans to renovate and assume operational support of a Ministry of Health clinic in Verrettes. On the infrastructure level, this involves improving the existing facility, upgrading equipment, stocking the pharmacy, and supplying reliable electricity.
Other fast-tracked projects underway include: new staff housing in Hinche; a sanitation block at for the Petite Riviere hospital; laundry facilities for the St. Marc Hospital (crucial for sterile patient care); and a supply warehouse in Thomonde. A large centralized warehouse in Port-au-Prince is also in the planning stages.
Perhaps most importantly, PIH/ZL has begun construction on a teaching hospital in Mirebalais. This facility will be the largest public hospital outside of Port-au-Prince. (Read more about this project in the Mirebalais Hospital section.)
