Hurricane Preparedness at St. Boniface Hospital

Health Equity International / St. Boniface Hospital (HEI/SBH) has 35+ years’ experience working through natural disasters, epidemics, and political instability, and has a strong track record in leading effective emergency response efforts in southern Haiti.

Ongoing Disaster Resilience Efforts 

As we fight to provide access to lifesaving healthcare in a climate vulnerable region, HEI/SBH is dedicated to strengthening disaster preparedness across Haiti’s health system. At SBH, we make improvements in our disaster preparedness protocols annually: training staff in emergency medicine and disaster response; increasing our stocks of essential medications and supplies; procuring durable materials to protect the hospital against high winds and heavy downpours; and investing in back-up communications infrastructure.

HEI/SBH is investing in responsive, climate-resilient health service delivery by partnering with seven health facilities across southern Haiti on a disaster preparedness project. Though we have faced significant barriers in recent months as we operate amid an unprecedented humanitarian crisis, our coalition is preparing for ongoing coordination across health facilities and designing trainings with international disaster response experts.

Natural disasters that damage sanitation infrastructure and lead to severe flooding enable the rapid spread of deadly waterborne illness like cholera and typhoid. To combat the long-term impacts of Hurricane Matthew, HEI/SBH’s 2016 response transformed from emergency relief to focus on cholera prevention and treatment.

Though there were three years without a confirmed cholera case in Haiti, the country is now facing another devastating outbreak of the disease. Guided by our experience responding to past epidemics, HEI/SBH is now preparing a rapid, comprehensive cholera response. To establish a 24-bed cholera treatment center and unit, we are training 15 additional staff, implementing infection control protocols, preparing community-level WASH interventions, and sourcing essential items like IVs and antibiotics, and cleaning supplies.

Thank you

Sociopolitical unrest and a declining economy have created a quickly worsening humanitarian crisis in the country. As health facilities across Haiti limit services or shutter completely, SBH’s doors remain open. HEI/SBH stands resolute in our commitment to the people we serve, and we deeply appreciate the GlobalGiving community’s dedication to this work.

To help HEI/SBH continue to provide access to high-quality, compassionate healthcare through one of the most challenging periods in modern Haitian history, click the donate button below or visit this page. Stay connected with our work by following HEI/SBH on Instagram (@healthequityinternational), Twitter, and Facebook. Thank you!