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An HI rehabilitation specialist and partner physical therapist teach a woman to walk on her new crutches after breaking her tibia in the earthquake. Cayes, 2021 | © R.CREWS/HI
The earthquake that hit Haiti claimed thousands of lives and caused widespread desolation. HI is actively responding and has already provided 1200 rehabilitation sessions to people injured.
HI is working with a Haitian partner organization, FONTEN, to provide support to two hospitals and a rehabilitation center. Prior to the arrival of HI’s emergency team, the hospitals did not have the resources to offer rehabilitation services, and the rehabilitation center was understaffed and unable to meet the rise in demand.
“Having HI has made a huge difference,” says Conseulo Alzamora, founder of the FONTEN rehabilitation center. “The number of earthquake-related patients has risen, and our staff was also affected by the earthquake, so a lot of them were unable to come to work. Having the support of HI has been very important for us and for the community. It has allowed us to work and to do much more than we could have done on our own.”
Together with FONTEN and 7 physical therapists supported and trained by HI, the emergency response team has provided 1200 rehabilitation sessions to people injured in the earthquake.
HI is an independent and impartial aid organisation working in situations of poverty and exclusion, conflict and disaster. We work alongside people with disabilities and vulnerable populations, taking action and bearing witness in order to respond to their essential needs, improve their living conditions and promote respect for their dignity and fundamental rights.
HI is an independent and impartial aid organisation working in situations of poverty and exclusion, conflict and disaster. We work alongside people with disabilities and vulnerable populations, taking action and bearing witness in order to respond to their essential needs, improve their living conditions and promote respect for their dignity and fundamental rights.