Saint Damien Hospital
Mission Statement: The healthcare programs of Nos Petits Freres et Soeurs are motivated by the gospel command to care for the sick and strive to offset the injustices of poverty and unemployment which make healthcare inaccessible for many poor people. Poverty imposes a tremedous burden of sickness and suffering on many children. In an effort to help precisley these children, St Damien Hospital offers both children of poverty, and children of any social level in emergent distress, quality and dignified healthcare. St. Damien always seeks to include the parent participation in this care through ongoing dialogue, on-site opportunities for education, and encouraging any level of material support they can offer for the care of their children.
Background:
The island nation of Haiti is located in the Caribbean and is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Poor sanitation and widespread poverty have led to young children being 15 times as likely to die from diarhhea or pneumonia than HIV/AIDS. Nearly 10% of children die before their 5th birthday, largely of treatable illnesses. 1 out of 4 children are moderatley to severley malnourished, and 138,000 children die of preventable diseases each year. In a population where 1/3 of the population is under 14 years old, improvements in pediatric health are a vital and necessary requirement towards Haiti’s economic, social, and political development.
Nos Pequenos Hermanos, founded by American priest Father William Wasson in 1954, opened their Haiti offices (as Nos Petit Frères et Sœurs (NPFS) or Our Little Brothers and Sisters) in 1988. While the initial goal of NPFS was to build a permanent home for orphaned and abandoned children in Port-au-Prince, the large amount of children dying from treatable illnesses showed a desperate need for a hospital that could treat chronic and other debilitating pediatric illnesses.
Funded through private contributions to NPH worldwide, St. Damien’s provides high quality medical treatment for disadvantaged and sick children in Haiti. More than half of all patients are admitted for an infectious disease such as tuberculosis, malaria, and HIV while twenty-five percent are admitted for non-infectious diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, and kidney infection. Most patients admitted are also malnourished. The outpatient clinic treats 100 children daily, for acute, parasitic, and bacterial infections. In specialized clinics, chronic conditions such as sickle cell anaemia, congenital heart diseases (CHD), tuberculosis and cancer are treated for months or years if needed. St. Damien Pediatric Hospital and associated public health programs of NPFS reach over 30,000 children annually.
Capacity
St. Damien’s Hospital has 120 beds, including an 18 bed emergency unit, 10 bed pediatric intensive care unit (pICU), and 9 bed cancer center.
Human Resources
The hospital is staffed with 18 pediatricians, 50 nurses and 60 certified nursing assistants, as well as 8 lab technicians, 1 x-ray technician and 3 x-ray auxillary technicians. The hospital pharmacy is headed by a trained pharmacist, whose work is supported by 22 pharmacy technicians and overseen by an international volunteer pharmacist.
Laboratory
The hospital’s laboratory has the capacity to do many essential tests, including malaria blood smears, HIV, and sickle cell. On average, about 1,500 haematologic exams and more than 4000 bacteriological exams are conducted monthly.
Radiology
The hospital has a digital x-ray which performs 400 x-rays a month and is capable of sending images across the internet to an external radiologist in America or Europe. More than 90% of all x-rays are pictures of the chest to exam the lungs for respiratory tract infections.
Pharmacy
The pharmacy is responsible for the drug and medical supplies and items to the patient rooms and out-patients. While some essential drugs are produced and purchased in Haiti, most medications and supplies are imported from Action Medeor, a specialist supplier for charity projects from Germany. A system has been established in the past few years where the hospital pharmacy team receives supervision, support and training from an international volunteer pharmacist from Germany through distant communications and a minimum of three to four annual visits in Haiti.
Surgery
St. Damien’s surgery is composed of two surgical suites, a recovery room, prep room, and a sterile changing area. The staff of 15 includes 2 doctors, 4 nurses, 2 certified nursing assistants, and 3 technicians who were trained in Italy. Around 2,000s surgeries are performed a year including colostomy, hypospadias, hydrochephelus, hernias, and oncology referalls. There are also visiting teams of surgeons who come 4x a year. Patients are referred to surgery from the general clinic and the emergency room, and the chief of surgery consults on 5-7 patients a day (monday through friday) to determine if surgery is needed. Non-emergency surgery is performed Monday through Friday, while emergency surgery is performed 7 days a week.
Pediatric Oncology/Hematology:
The St. Damiens Pediatric Oncology/Hematology Center has been in existence since 2006, and has treated over 140 patients from throughout Haiti. The Center treats both solid tumor and blood cancers (such as leukemia, lymphoma, retinoblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, osteosarcoma, Wilms, Hepatoblastoma, Neuroblastoma, ovarian,
testicular) as well as hematological diseases (such as aplastic anemia). Chemotherapy and surgical interventions are provided on-sight at the St Damien campus in Tabarre, which radiation therapy is provided in Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic.
The Center currently works closely with St Jude’s Medical Center in
the US, and is currently undergoing evaluation to become a St Jude
international affiliate. Our head oncology pediatrician is currently
spending a year in Guatemala at the St Jude Center there undergoing
training. There are also bi-weekly video conferences with St Judes to
discuss difficult cases-oncology pathology is also supported by
several centers in the US who aid in diagnosis.
Tuberculosis:
The TB Program at St. Damien’s treats both Pulmonary TB and Extra-Pulmonary TB and is for children between 0-14 years of age, divided between children who are under 6 years of age, and those that are between 6-14 years of age. Those under 6 recieve 6 months of treatment while those between 6-14 years of age recieve 8 months. Both age groups start with an initial 2 month in-patient treatment and medications are provided by Haiti’s National Program Against TB (PNLT in French). In 2009, St. Damien’s treated 221 patients for TB.
Malnutrtion:
St. Damien’s Malnutrition Program started two years ago, in order to combat Haiti’s alarmingly high rate of malnutrition (17,500 children under the age of 5 were reported to be acutely malnourished before the quake). The program runs for 6 weeks, and provides patients with food packages consiting of a combination of F100 (a dried high-energy milk that is fortified with a mix of vitamins and minerals that are designed to counter the specific biochemical effects of malnutrition in children) and Plumpy’Nut (a combination of peanut paste, vegetable oil, powdered milk, powdered sugar, vitamins, and minerals). Children are followed through weekly consultations to monitor progress. HIV tests are offered to those suspected for being at risk for HIV, about a quarter of program participants.
Maternity:
St Damien’s High Risk Maternity Program sees over 1,000 patients a month. The Program has a staff of 56 including 8
obstetrician/gynocologists, 7 anethesiologists, and 12 midwives. The Program collaborates closely with the St Luc Manitane Pre-natal clinic and St Luc Outreach Clinics in the slums.
Neonatology:
St Damien’s Neonatology program treats our highest risk newborns, and serves up to 50 patients per month.
Other activities
Public Health Program: provides standard pediatrics vaccinations to all hospital patients, and provides out-patient public health programs (including HIV) to the people of Haiti.
Daily Dental Clinic: Available to Children and Adults, and available 5x a week.
Contact: For any questions, please email the Communications Officer at Co.ht@nph.org.
It is so wonderful that people have so much love in their heart for different people.
We are praying constantly and gathering our forces and finances to assist the relief fund … our love and prayers go out to Fr Rick … our brothers and sisters in service to everyone and the hundreds of children who live each day in need and pain
I would like to know if I would be able to send some items to your hospital to help benefit the earthquake victims? I do not have tons of money but I have clothing items, toys etc that I could ship to you.
[...] St. Damien Children’s Hospital in Haiti is treating patients outside the hospital. http://saintdamienhospital.wordpress.com/about/ [...]
[...] St. Damien Children’s Hospital in Haiti is treating patients outside the hospital. http://saintdamienhospital.wordpress.com/about/ [...]
To: Fr. Rick and staff:
I was unaware of your remarkable work until seeing the horror of the earthquake devasation on ABC this morning. Between my husband and I we have four children and our hearts go out to those you take care of every single day of every single year.
Although we regularly support various organizations, including World Neighbors, I want to make a donation to your hospital directly and to continue doing so on a regular basis.
We are not wealthy people, but I hope that we can make some small difference in what you do, especially during these horrific times.
Please let me know how I may get a check directly to you, or a credit card donation. I understand you have a parent organization, but my intend is direct donations to your efforts.
God Bless,
Susan Gannon
North Andover, MA., U.S.A.
Fr. Rick,
You and all you care for are in our prayers. Although we have not spoke in many years, you are never far from our thoughts and prayers. Please let me know if there is anything I can do from Saratoga NY, I am the assistant medical director of the emergency department Saratoga Springs NY and would like to help in some way. I know communication is difficult for you now. Reminder, We attended NYCOM together.
Please let me know what I can do to help.
Peace, Love and Prayers in Christ,
Your friend
Chris Case D.O.
A group of us from a children’s hospital in the US want to explore partnering with you. I can be reached at Lrabbitt@CHOC.org. Blessings. Leslie Rabbitt MPH, CHOC Children’s Hospital, Orange, California
Our company (Questcor Pharmaceuticals) would like to make a donation to your hospital. I have tried to click on the “Donation” button on your website but I cannot get it to work.
Please let me know how we can make a donation.
You can contact me via e-mail for cell phone in the USA (415-269-6413).
Thank you.
Dave Medeiros
SVP Pharmaceutical Operations
Questcor Pharmaceuticals Inc.
3260 Whipple Road
Union City, CA 94587
Phone: 510-400-0772
Fax: 510-400-0715
e-mail: dmedeiros@questcor.com
Hi. I am one of the ER physicians that worked at St.Damien’s Hospital last week with No Time for Poverty and am originally from Regions Hospital in St.Paul, Minnesota.
We stayed in your orphanage with our friend Mona. I talked with Mona and I know that there is quite a shortage of formula there. I have a lot of donors who want to help. I understand that donating formula is hard as we are having great difficulty in figuring out how to get this to Mona. Is there a way I can have people write checks and donate money through St.Damien’s to buy formula for the orphanage?
Also, I am in my second year of residency and will have a month of time to donate to Haiti on an away rotation and would like to donate that month to the services of your hospital if you are interested. I would not be able to do this until July/August of this summer at the earliest. I will work in whatever job you need me.
Thank you for your help.
Sincerely,
Autumn Erwin
I can provide you with the shelters you need to expand your facility. Our Super Igloos will weather any tropical storm. These buildings are inexpensive and will last for decades. I can have them there in one week. Call Ken Laughren back at 250-215-0256 or investigate our system at http://www.csidomes.com I can solve your problem for shelter if you let me.
Dear Father Rick, The womens group at St Peter the Apostle Catholic Church in Jackson, Mississippi is planning a fundraiser event for the hospital and orphanage. We would like to donate the proceeds. Please advise how we might go ahead with that. God Bless, Nancy
Dear Nancy,
My sincerest apologies for the delays in response-we have been very busy since the quake and are only getting around to comments now. All donations can be sent to Friends of the Orphans ( https://secure.imodules.com/s/769/inner.aspx?sid=769&gid=1&pgid=344&cid=813& ) which will make sure the donations get here quickly and securely.
Fr. Dr Rick and all volunteers and people of Haiti,
We can only imagine what you have gone through and still going through. We thank you for your steadfast love and care and for our strength of heart. We the community of St Gabriel’s Church, Port Orchard, Washington, USA, feel with you. Small though we are, we have tried to collect some money to assist the Children’s Hospital. However little our contribution may be, we give it from the very bottom of our hearts. We will send it through the Mission Office of the Archdiocese of seattle.
God bless you and thank you for giving us aliving example of living a truly christian life.
Henry
Hello Fr. Rick,
How would one volunteer at St. Damien? I am a student in the United States and have spent years working with infants and toddlers. I’ve been watching the progress in Haiti from here and praying for how I might help with this massive process. I’ve been so moved by what St. Damien is doing for these children and their families but don’t see information on how to get involved. Please let me know what that process looks like and if there is a need.
thank you and God Bless.
Robin
Here you go!
International Volunteer Program
United States: The Friends International Volunteer Program sends qualified individuals, couples and families to support the staff and children living in the homes of Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos in Bolivia, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua and Peru. For more information, click http://www.friendsoftheorphans.org/s/769/inner.aspx?pgid=269
Outside the US: Go to NPH.org and select volunteer opportunities on the left-hand side.
HI FATHER RICK,IM ANGEL RUIZ ,CUBAN RN, FROM MIAMI IM ONE WORKET AT S,DAMIEN IN {EARTHQUAKE}IM IN HAITI 4/24 TO 4/27 1199SEIU DELEGATION . DUMOND BELEVILLE,HAITI 786-273-1338 GOD BLESS ANGEL.
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Awesome writing style!
I am a retired familly doctor interested in serving at St. Damien, probably in the out-pt. clinic. I have been to Haiti a few times ususally serving at cholera treatment centers, but have brief experiences in tropical medicine. I have a good record, and pay my own way! Presently Samaritan’s Purse that I have served with actually has enough volunteer doctors for Haiti . In HIS Service, John Hines MD
Hi John,
Thanks for contacting us about volunteering at St. Damien in the out-patient clinic. I have forwarded your information on to the volunteer coordinator who will be contacting you shortly about our needs.
Thanks again and God’s Blessings,
Robin Forestal
I’m relocating to Haiti, and I would like to become the first respiratory therapist at nph. I would like to ask permission to sent my resume for a job opportunity. My email is
jjosma@sbcglobal.net, please let me know
Judive Josma
Hello Judive,
Thank you for your contact. Please feel free to send your resume to ad.ht@nph.org and I will forward it to the appropriate personnel for review.
Thanks again,
Robin Forestal
Hello Mrs. Florestal
I have email my resume, please let me know if you receive it. I’m coming to haiti around july 19th thru 24th, may I come visit the hospital and the staff. if the answer is yes please let me know where and when.
thanks Judive