Southern Haiti Earthquake Relief

The 7.2 magnitude earthquake that struck Haiti’s southern peninsula in August 2021 killed more than 2,200 people, caused over 12,700 injuries, left over 675,000 people in need of humanitarian aid, and damaged or destroyed two-thirds of southern Haiti’s healthcare facilities.

As the largest healthcare provider in the region, HEI/SBH immediately led the emergency response. Our team administered life-saving care to survivors, hosted a team of specialized orthopedic and trauma surgeons, and delivered critical medications and supplies to hospitals and clinics throughout the impacted area. As the acute emergency phase ended, our focus has shifted from immediate disaster response towards restoring access to primary care, rebuilding the region’s shattered health system, and creating a world-class orthopedics program.

Establishing a Permanent Orthopedics Program

An estimated 80% of injuries from the 2021 earthquake required orthopedic treatment. After the disaster, HEI/SBH’s team provided emergency orthopedic care to earthquake survivors with support from visiting surgeons. At the same time, we began collaborating with national and international experts to establish a permanent orthopedic surgery program, including an orthopedic outpatient clinic to provide consultations and follow-ups.

Housed within HEI/SBH’s surgical center, the orthopedic surgery team performs more than a dozen different procedures such as amputations, ablation, reduction and casting, internal and external fixation, and more. Patients are referred for surgery through either our emergency department or our outpatient orthopedics clinic. They also receive physical and occupational therapy through our rehabilitation center, which is part of our Spinal Cord Injury Program.

HEI/SBH has conducted 1,650 orthopedic patient visits and performed 316 orthopedic surgeries since the earthquake.

Meet Djubens

One patient who received life-changing orthopedic care at SBH during the grant period was Djubens, a seven-year-old boy from L’Asile, a town close to the earthquake’s epicenter. He suffered two broken legs and open wounds when his home collapsed, and rubble fell on him. The local health center could not give him the care he needed, but at SBH, he received an initial orthopedic surgery to repair his fractured legs and will continue to receive follow-up care, which is likely to include further surgical procedures and extensive physical therapy. His full story is available here.

Thank you

In the year since Haiti’s 2021 earthquake, sociopolitical unrest and a declining economy have created an unprecedented humanitarian crisis in the country.  As health facilities in 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!