In the aftermath of the Jan. 12 earthquake, Haiti’s Ministry of Health estimated that more than 60 percent of the medical structures in the most affected neighborhoods were either damaged or destroyed, which worsened an already appalling medical situation for the estimated 300,000 injured.

Compassion International, which has been ministering to children’s needs in Haiti for 42 years, responded with a robust health strategy for Compassion-assisted children and their families.

Lifesaving interventions were administered immediately after the quake, and Compassion quickly sent a medical team into Haiti. The team identified the most critical cases and arranged transport for the injured children and staff to nearby hospitals and clinics.

Compassion’s 69 church partners located in the hardest-hit areas assessed children’s emergency medical needs. Through a joint effort between local and overseas medical teams, the Compassion office in Haiti assisted approximately 400 injured children, their siblings and their parents in the weeks following the earthquake.

The local staff also responded to pressing needs with mobile clinics. Pastors, child development center staff and employees with medical backgrounds were organized into mobile clinics to bring relief to the people. More than 200 individuals were seen daily through these clinics. Some cases were treated on location, while others were referred to medical facilities based on the seriousness of their conditions.

Compassion’s medical strategy included the following health interventions:

• 21,000 Compassion-sponsored children, siblings and parents received medical treatment.
• More than 14,000 Compassion children and their families were seen through mobile clinics, receiving immunizations and de-worming medications in addition to other medical treatment.
• Medical supplies were provided to 17 partnering medical facilities.
• 4,000 hygiene kits were distributed to 756 CSP beneficiaries and 3,244 sponsored children.
• Hepatitis B and tetanus vaccines were administered to nearly 4,500 children and siblings.
• Water treatment equipment was distributed to 50 child development centers.

“It touched my heart to see so many people every day, both children and adults, eager to receive appropriate care,” said Dr. Micheleine Charles, pediatrician.

Contributing writer: Michelle Zavala