I’m now back in the UK and enjoying spending time with our HHA team here.  We’ve got some incredible volunteers who humbly serve the appeal each week, doing all the bits and pieces that rarely get noticed, but are vital to the work.  It’s also been a real joy to welcome our new UK Operations Director to the team.  Anthony is a fantastic guy, who’ll be a real blessing to the team here.  He’s already on the look out for a new army of volunteers to help us fulfill our vision here, so whatever your skill set, if you’re interested in helping from the UK, please contact Anthony today:  anthony@haitihospitalappeal.org

Another exciting new addition to our team is Downton Abbey star Laura Carmichael, who has become HHA’s first patron, which we announced at our annual dinner dance.  Laura has been so supportive in the last year, and we’re really excited and grateful for her willingness to take this a step further and become our official patron.  You can hear more from Laura in our latest news piece: Downton Abbey Star becomes HHA Patron

Our Medical Director in Haiti, Dr Paul Toussaint was also recently presented with a national award in Haiti, honoring the work he’s done for paediatric care in Northern Haiti.  It was a great honor for him to receive such an award, and very much deserved.  His passion and hunger for justice in the area of paediatrics is truly inspirational, and it’s a privilege to serve with him!  Perhaps one of his greatest achievements in the last year has been the development of our neonatal unit which continues to provide life saving care to premature babies. 

A few weeks ago we finished installing a new electrical back up system for this unit, to ensure 24/7 electricity.  This has been an important upgrade to the system we invested in through support from USAID several years ago.  Thanks to Gulf for Good and The French Protestant Foundation, we were able to install a new generator, battery banks, and inverters, upgrading the hospitals electrical capacity which really boosts the services.  It’s hard to understand from a UK perspective how electrical power can be such an issue, but for many hospitals in Haiti, poor electricity can place patients at grave, life threatening risk.  Our upgraded system gives the doctors and nurses even more confidence that the foundations for good, quality care is a normality and something they can rely on.  A huge thanks to the team from ITEC who came and helped install this.

They haven’t been the only guests on site recently though.  The Swiss Paraplegic Foundation have also joined us continuing our SCI training programme.  We’ve also had The Walkabout Foundation join us, who spent a fantastic day distributing wheelchairs to many people. 

Along with many others, it was also a real privilege to welcome the UK Ambassador for Haiti and Dominican Republic to our site, who was very encouraging about the work.  Sadly I was already back in the UK, but Reninca enjoyed having the chance to show him around, and we’re very bgrateful for his visit.

We’ll try and update you all again soon.  As we said though, if you’d like to get involved with HHA from the UK, please do contact Anthony!  We’re keen to keep this momentum going!

However, in the last few years we have had the privilege of witnessing this level of love through a unique and special group – our Community Based Rehabilitation Team (CBR), supported through BMS World Mission.  For the last two years they have been selflessly serving some of the most vulnerable and marginalised people in Haiti, those with physical or mental disabilities. 

I’ve had the privilege of following them in communities, watching them walk bare foot through stagnant, sewage water just so they could reach isolated families, surrounded in flooding, who no one else would visit.  I have watched them hold these children tenderly, with such sensitivity as if they were their own; and seen them advocate on these children’s behalf with an intense passion, driven by a hunger for justice and equality.  They cherish each child as if the children they serve truly were their own.  The results have been incredible:

- Over 190 children/young adults have regularly been supported through the programme in the last year, with over 1470 visits to families.

- There are 8 schools now accepting children with disabilities in the target zone, who previously didn’t accept disabled children

-  36 of the children couldn’t walk, but were connected through the team to our rehabilitation unit and now walk!  Another 20 people who had amputations were able to find prosthesis.

- In one community, a survey highlighted that last year 62% of families with disabled children suffered abuse on a daily basis.  The team said that had since fallen to 36% since challenging communities in schools, churches etc had happened, and that there is a noticeable change in the way people with disabilities are treated.

- 67 churches have received disability training, which has encouraged the integration of persons with disabilities into faith communities.  For example, church attendance for disabled people in 10 churches subsequently over doubled, and one now has 47 members with a disability.

- The team have also taken children with life threatening disabilities to PAP to receive life saving operations.

The list could go on!  When these stats translate into real stories, we can begin to see why the command to ‘love others as ourselves’ is so urgent.  Just as one example, Benounon is 12 and lives with her father who is severely disabled.  Sadly her mother died during delivery.  They live in a tiny room without electricity or water, with nothing but an old mattress on the floor.  When Benounon was introduced to us, she was found at home, chewing on a piece of wood because she was so hungry and they had no food.  The CBR team have been able to connect her with our respite home and a local church who now support the family.  Without the CBR teams help, this family would have been one of many left to struggle alone.

Sadly, the designated funding for this project has just come to an end, and regrettably with the economic situation as it is, this is one programme at present we’ll sadly be unable to continue.  We’ll certainly be doing all we can to raise funds to re-initiate this urgent work, but from this month, this wonderful programme will tragically be coming to an end.

It’s hard to know what to write when facing such frustrating realities.  I wanted to write in honor of these incredible guys who have sacrificed so much, and I think the stats speak for themselves.  I also wanted to write as a voice for those 19o+ families who’ll dearly miss this support, and be a voice on behalf of them.  It’s amazing what a difference can be made when we truly love others as ourselves.

Rather predictably, that leads us onto a final challenge.  If Benounon were our own child, to what end would we now stand and do everything within our power to ensure she continued receiving care.  If she weren’t a distant story, an example of poverty, a statistic.  If she were truly our own child, what would we do?  I have no doubt that if these 190+ children were our own, the response would be vast and far reaching.  Perhaps the answer to that question, is the exact kind of response Jesus had in mind…even for those we may never meet.

We’ve shared a good time here, and yesterday had the privilege to help lead a service for our Rehabilitation patients.  Many of them miss the fellowship of being part of a church whilst they are with us, and so each Sunday our chaplaincy team support them with a special hospital service.  It was moving speaking about new life and new hope, looking on at the faces of so many individuals who have themselves overcome almost certain death, now enjoying a new lease of life. 

Whilst some patients got discharged this week, others arrived, including one young paraplegic guy who our ambulance team had picked up from another facility where he was just lying on a wooden bench.  When I saw him the first day, he was in a terrible state, having clearly been unable to care for himself, arriving with no belongings or family.  It was a joy though as we gathered everyone for the service on Sunday to find him clothed, with a new hair cut, and being looked after so well by the team.

Just across the way and there was more hope of new life on Easter Sunday.  The little 28 week premature baby who’d been bought to us a week or so earlier, weighing just 800 grams, continues to battle away, and is progressing well.  ‘She’s getting bigger!’ exclaimed one of the paediatricians joyfully this morning!  Saving such babies was once just a dream of Dr Toussaint, but once again, we’re seeing real change, as justice starts to flow more and more.  It’s strange to think that this time last year, we officially opened our Maternity and Paediatric Unit, and what a year it’s been since.

Last year over 2,400 children were cared for, including over 100 babies in the neonatal unit, and over 2,500 women.  Considering our designated funding for these critical services ended in December, it’s a real testament of our supporters generosity that these services still continue, whilst we try and secure some longer term funding.

Perhaps at this time, the most important place where the battle for these lives needs to happen, is in the homes and communities of people outside of Haiti, and we’ve seen some amazing fundraising efforts recently.  Our dear friend and loyal supporter of HHA, Colin, has dyed his beard red to raise money for HHA!  Amazing.  You can support him here:  SPONSOR COLIN

My brother is also preparing for the epic task of 26 miles in the London Marathon in a few weeks, and Reninca and I have joined a team of crazy HHA supporters doing the Tough Mudder challenge in June.  Check the video out below, and let us know asap if you’d like to join the team.  If not, you can sponsor us here:  SPONSOR RENINCA AND CARWYN GET VERY MUDDY

There are so many ways we can fight for the lives of the people we’re serving, without even having to come to Haiti!  This Easter, join the fight with us.

However, in the last few weeks a few harrowing stories have reminded me afresh of why we’re here.  One visiting team we partner with, who stay at our Volunteer village, attended the cities Government hospital, where they were introduced to a new born baby who’d just been found, abandoned in a black sack on a pile of rubbish.  Disturbingly, the baby had been left there all night, and her lonely cries had attracted some of the local dogs, who in their own desperate struggle for survival had eaten the babies foot off.

Just a few days or so later, and as I sat working one Sunday afternoon, the harrowing sounds of mourning rang across the hospital site.  A young teenage girl had been bought to us in a critical state.  Sadly, the family had taken her to a near by witch doctor first, who our medical director said had caused a great deal of trauma upon the girl.  Tragically, after such trauma, she was beyond saving, and died surrounded by her broken family.

The daily tales of need can be intensely harrowing here, and are a constant reminder as to the great need of why we’re here.  Perhaps just as troubling for Haiti, though obviously in a very different way, is the deeply concerning reality of NGO’s in North Haiti, who find themselves struggling for survival.  Even in the last few weeks we’ve been in direct contact with two groups, one international charity which has run out of funds to continue and is closing, and another in Haiti which is pulling out having exhausted all options to find a way to stay.  Budgets are being slashed, as the world economy continues to punish the most vulnerable, and the continued negative press Haiti gets, does nothing but to enforce people’s charitable fatigue.

To see the direct impact this is having on HHA is a constant concern upon our hearts, especially when the programmes are truly making such a difference!  Even in the last few days we’ve had a hearing specialist with us, who had the chance to provide hearing to several people for the first time.  You can’t beat the smile of an elderly man able to hear his daughter for the first time in years, or of a man who comes to HHA and receives his first proper wheelchair!

And whilst the elderly are enabled to rejoice, so to are the little ones.  Yesterday evening we had 9 babies in the neonatal unit, including one tiny 28 weeker (who’d greatly value your prayers!) who is only 800 grams.  There’s so much going on, and perhaps the easiest way to share the heart of these services is through our latest video which we’d love you to watch!  Please check it out now!

If you can watch it for a few minutes, please consider also sharing it with your friends, family or colleagues!  There are good things happening in Haiti, but in order for them to continue, your support is now more critical than ever!  Please consider making a donation today or getting involved.

Aside from anything else, on 26^th April, we’ll be having our Annual Charity Dinner Dance, and we’d love to see you there!  Want to find out more, please e-mail michelle@haitihospitalappeal.org

Thanks for your continued support, and please do keep battling on with us!

In Haiti, women are the bedrock for families and communities.  Women will literally go without food so their children can go to school.  However, despite the key social foundation women provide, according to some reports, they “are the most disenfranchised and marginalized portion of the population.”  Everyday, as a women, I’m inspired and moved by the women I work with, and in celebration of International Women’s Day, we thought we’d share about some of the inspiring women we work with.

Louina is one of our child care team, and works tirelessly at the childrens home. She is always in the background busy loving, caring and cleaning the children. She is also foster mother to one of our abandoned children. The child she fosters is severely disabled, and continuously struggles with sickness, which can cause a great deal of discomfort and crying.  Louinas patience, resolve and love is overwhelming. She never complains, and works without ceasing.  Louina to me represents the capacity of a woman to give.

Immacula is our administrator and is a strong, gracious and kind lady. She shows the strength, intelligence and love of a woman, being first to start work, and least to leave work.  Immacula to me represents the strength of a woman

Jeanine is one of our staff, who has a spinal cord injury, which has left her partially paralysed. Her resolve and dedication to succeed is overwhelming. She has encountered more difficulties than any of us will ever face, having been left paralysed through the most harrowing of circumstances. However, she never gives up or moans, but goes on life, succeeding in all she sets her mind to, and giving her best everyday.  Jeanine to me represents the resolve women have to overcome difficulties and trials.

Madam Bwa to me represents the heart of a woman.  She lives in one of the poorest slums of Cap-haitien. She has an incredible love for every one in her community and does everything she can to help people in her community.  With almost non existent finances, so somehow manages to provide multiple services to her community, saving lives everyday, choosing to stay within the slum, so she can serve those she loves.

Lastly, Christina is one of our cleaners who serves and loves in such a humble way. She is constantly singing and praising God, working well over her scheduled hours to ensure the hospital is clean and tidy to give an excellent service.  She is one of the most dedicated women I’ve ever met, who takes joy in giving what she can, and despite having so little, gives in abundance.  Christina to me represents the servant heart of a woman.

We thank God for women and all they continue to do in Haiti.  On this special day/weekend (with Mothers day on Sunday too), please join with us and make a special donation to honor an inspirational mum or woman in your life.  All donations over this weekend will support our Maternity work, and enable the women above, and many others, to continue saving lives.  Please make a special donation today.

However, there have been many highlights since out last blog, with some amazing meetings, stories, and developments etc.  For a start, we have a new long term volunteer with us (Laura), thanks to the support of BMS, who has been doing an amazing job here already.  She’s going to be living and working for HHA until December, running the Volunteer Village.  If you’d like to come and volunteer in Haiti, Laura would love to hear from you:  Laura@haitihospitalappeal.org

This week the village has hosted members of The Haiti Health Trust (THHT), a US registered NGO which is supporting HHA.  They’ve been an incredible encouragement, training our Inclusive Sports team, and running Leadership workshops.  It’s been great to listen to our Haitian management team together, sharing their vision and values for the hospital.  Statements like, ‘we want to provide loving, compassionate, professional and dignified health care without any form of discrimination to anyone’ is inspiring to hear.  As always, Dr Toussaint, our medical director continues to lead by example, ensuring such statements are lived out, not just spoken. 

During Haiti’s national carnival a few weeks back, the Ministry of Health asked to use the Mobile Clinic we run with Konbit Sante, so we could provide emergency assistance in the heart of the carnival.  Dr Toussaint agreed, and subsequently worked from 6pm until about 3am on several nights at the carnival, and then got up again in the morning, and did full day shifts.

Aside from THHT, we’ve also had some other amazing visitors, including Midwives for Haiti and Direct Relief International who are interested in working with HHA to develop a midwifery training school at the hospital.  It would be an amazing privilege to be involved in training new Midwives, and we’re looking forward to developing that.  We also just received another shipment of medical supplies from Direct Relief, with a value of over $200,000US, which as you can imagine, is a great blessing, and really helps us to provide quality health care.

Just last week, as we were sitting in our little temporary hospital chapel, a mother and daughter (Marie) walked in and joined in with the singing.  Towards the end of the little service, the mother asked if we could pray for her daughter who’d just been told by our doctors that she needed an urgent operation, otherwise she would die.  The daughter wanted to decline, as was understandably terrified.  Over the next few days, Marie and her mother kept returning to the little chapel (made of a tent) for further support and counselling.  Finally, thanks to the commitment and love of our team (doctors, admin, chaplains etc), Marie decided to have the operation with us. 

Today I had the privilege of doing a quick ward round and got to see Marie and her mum, both full of joy, their faces gleaming with beautiful smiles, ready to go home, after the successful surgery.  They showed me the pictures of the four growths that had been removed, which were like the size of melons.  It was a moving moment, to see how our whole team had been involved in not only offering life saving medical care, but supporting Marie in such a loving and holistic way.  These stories happen day after day.  What a privilege it is to be here.  If you’d like to help fundraise and support other women like Marie, please do get involved.  We’d love to hear from you!

About a week and a half ago, one of our ambulance drivers knocked on our door at about 10pm, asking if we could come and help with an emergency, after a truck full of people had flipped over outside the hospital.  About 22 patients subsequently crammed into the clinic, which ended up looking more like an accident and emergency ward.  The staff did a fantastic job, dealing with some very critical cases, undoubtedly saving many lives. 

That same week, I headed off to Port au Prince for a national Spinal Cord Injury meeting with public and private sector groups, looking at improving spinal care across the whole country.  On the same day, The American Ambassador for Haiti headed up North and visited our hospital site.  Reninca, Dr Toussaint, and Immacula (our new Head Administrator) did a wonderful job showing the Ambassador around, in a proud day for the hospital.  It was an honor having the opportunity to share our vision with the Ambassador, and pass on our thanks for the kind support of USAID over the last few years.

Whilst in Port au Prince, I had the chance to visit one of Haiti’s other Spinal Units, which is also one of the only hospitals in the country where you can find periodic surgery for children with hydrocephalus.  It was a slightly surreal experience walking through their paediatric ward, seeing children who looked so similar to our Gracey.  Poignantly, the memories it stirred within me about Grace were the first of many this week.  Today is the anniversary of her tragic passing away last year.

Much has been done in HHA’s quest to reduce child mortality rates in Haiti since then.  As one example, 109 babies have passed through our neonatal unit since last April, many undoubtedly being saved by the critical care provided.  However, I guess at this time, whilst it’s true we can see some hugely significant steps forward in paediatric care, when it comes to hydrocephalus, not much has changed in Haiti.  We’re still faced with the same tragic reality that a year on, children in North Haiti with hydrocephalus still don’t have any real chance of long term survival. 

I do dream that one day we’ll be able to offer surgical assistance for such vulnerable children, but like all NGO’s in Haiti at the moment, the great needs are met with diminishing financial capacity to tackle some of these injustices.  Just a few weeks ago one child with hydrocephalus was bought to our respite home, a small toddler with a head probably 3-4 times bigger than it should have been, at a point where it honestly seemed like there was little we could do.

Yet, whilst in Port au Prince, I had the moving chance to re-unite with one of our old earthquake spinal patients, now walking freely without a stick, and working at one of Haiti’s main banks.  After just meeting him, one of our friends remarked to me, ‘according to some people, spinal care can’t be done in Haiti.’  That was the reality 3 years ago, but thanks to the collaboration, hard work and vision of many, a lots changed since then. 

As I reflect on Grace today, I hope that in the next few years we’ll be able to say the same about hydrocephalus in North Haiti.  Grace is just one of many children we’ve seen die prematurely due to hydrocephalus.  We’re not going to stop working until their lives truly leave the legacy deserved; and move the international community into action, in order to stop other avoidable deaths.  If it can be done for spinal care, it can be done again for children like Grace.

You could write huge articles on this, but in the space of a short blog, there’s not nearly enough time to paint a full picture of how I feel.  What I would say though, is that if people are genuinely concerned by the lack of progress in the past three years, they should perhaps be more aware and anxious to help prohibit what would seem to be a more fragile three years ahead. 

I was reading one article this week, which in my opinion rightly questioned how little funding has been made available to Haitian led organisations since the earthquake.  I’d say the same to be true for smaller NGO’s as well, who’ve had deep roots in Haiti from way before January 12th 2010.  Obviously I’m biased, as we are one of those small groups, but…whilst the national situation of improvement does deserve questions, having spent almost 75% of my time in Haiti in over the last four years, I can say that on a grass root community level, significant, memorable advances are being made.

This week for instance, we’ll be heading to Port au Prince to participate in a national spinal cord injury meeting we’ve helped arrange, with a network of hospitals that have truly transformed the medical capacity of Haiti in dealing with spinal injuries.  Before the earthquake it was an almost unheard of practice, with dire mortality rates.  In 2012, one of Haiti’s earthquake spinal patients even competed at the London 2012 Paralympics.  It’s a privilege for us to continue working with the Swiss Paraplegic Foundation, who are one of a small number of groups who came as an emergency post earthquake group, but continue to battle with us year after year to improve things.

Then, take Maternity care, one of the greatest health challenges for the country, which has suffered the highest rates of infant and maternal mortality in the western hemisphere for  years, with women facing a 1 in 37 chance of dying during labor.  Certainly in our zones, alongside great partners like Konbit Sante, we’ve been able to have a significant impact on the situation.  Even looking at the growth rate of our Maternity unit in the last months highlights that our battle to see women deliver safely in hospital is being won.  In April 2012 we had just 3 deliveries at the hospital.  In Dec, we had 66, of which a large percentage were high risk.

So clearly, when aid is done appropriately, change has happened, and can continue to happen.  However, as I said at the start – if the past response saddens people, they should be cautious of the future.  Why?  It’s been staggering in the last year to see how many of these affective, grass root charities have been struggling for survival themselves in the current economic crisis, (and we’ve not been exempt.)  Budgets being cut, staff being laid off, projects being closed.  There is certainly money available for construction within Haiti, which is often a great blessing, and we’ve certainly been privileged to have been involved in some great projects of that kind.  However, there is a real drought of operational costs available for all those groups who have been working tirelessly for years, which is making the future of many NGO’s very stark indeed, and the future of some communities in Haiti questionable to.

Unless this changes, the pessimistic predictions of gloom cast by some commentators this week probably will sadly become true in the future, even if people don’t believe they are now.  However, if that issue can be tackled, and the world can again remember Haiti and invest in groups with the roots, track record and heart in Haiti, then I do believe powerful grass root change can continue to happen.  It will take renewed commitment though, and as predictable as this last statement may seem (and probably is), it will take the support of all those who were once touched by Haiti, but have moved on, to look on at what can be achieved, and re-commit to this desperate and beautiful country.

If you’d like to make a donation today, in memory of the earthquake, please do DONATE TODAY.

The start of 2012 was perhaps the most difficult we’d faced, feeling the full pain and injustice of Haiti through the sad loss of Grace, who passed away as a result of her hydrocephalus.  It was the consequence of a country left critically under resourced, in a situation which would have been easily avoided and dealt with in the UK.  Her life had touched thousands, and her premature death was a stark and harrowing reminder of the fight we’re up against, and the need for greater investment in Haiti.  Whilst deeply saddened, the HHA team vowed to use Grace’s life as lasting legacy.  A life that represented what can be achieved in Haiti, but also the urgency of what else needs to happen.

3 months later, and significant progress was made!  Thanks to the incredible generosity of our supporters, we were able to finally open our Maternity and Paediatric Unit.  This was a dream we’d fought for since 2005, and was a particularly memorable and significant step forward after the tragic start of 2012.  Since then, Reninca and I have had the daily privilege of walking through those wards and seeing lives literally saved every day.  Over 3,500 women, children and babies cared for in the first 6 months.  Truly amazing.

Another highlight of 2012 obviously had to be London 2012, as Leon (one of our earthquake patients) was privileged to join the Haitian Paralympic Team, and become one of Haiti’s first paralympic athletes, alongside his team mates Nephtalie and Cajuste.  What a few weeks it was, as the crowds cheered on Leon at Brands Hatch, a man who captured the heart of thousands, proving the impossible is possible.  A few months after Leon returned from London 2012, and our long term legacy of London 2012 kicked off with the inauguration of our Inclusive Sports Centre, opened by the Head of the UN in Haiti.

And yet, whilst there are some incredible memories of success for 2012, it also proved to be one of the hardest we’d faced.  Cholera re-peaked at the end of 2012, from a controlled level of 10-20 cholera inpatients a day at our site through out 2012, to over 150 inpatients on any given day after the severe flooding.  This time though, Haiti’s cholera emergency was overlooked, with little international attention.  With the media’s eye no longer on Haiti, and the recession in full flow back in Europe, 2012 was perhaps our toughest fundraising year ever.  Whilst the continued commitment of the Swiss Paraplegic Foundation, UN, USAID and others allowed some of our projects the critical sustainability needed, others continued to rely solely upon the generous support of individuals and local communities internationally.

2013 will be no different, and again, we’d ask that you continue supporting this critical work!  The future of a number of our projects really do rest upon our fundraising efforts internationally.  Please join with us, and let 2013 stand for something!  Let it leave a lasting legacy as we seek to ‘Bring Hope to Life’ and as one supporter recently said… ‘life to hope.’  Connect with us today, if you’d like to get more involved!

For a few hours we were able to showcase a vision we’ve been building up to for over a year, with our patients challenging the stigma of disability face on…singing, break dancing, playing basket ball, selling jewelry etc.  Our speech stated that this time last year we’d opened a rehabilitation centre which signified the importance of giving people with disabilities in Haiti the right to live.  The opening of our sports centre, signified the importance of giving people with disabilities in Haiti the right to dream.

Yet, as is often the way in Haiti, just days after the sports opening, we’re hit with a new and more sobering activity on site.  As expected, the cholera has increased rapidly since last weeks floods.  On Saturday we had 95 patients at the cholera treatment centre, and by Sunday…130 patients.  A sad peak, after a relatively quiet year.  And yet, as I left Haiti yesterday heading for the US, its not the cholera that I fear as the greatest enemy to Haiti’s future.

Amidst all the activities of the last few weeks, perhaps the greatest challenge, and most emotionally draining reality has been the continued affect of the global economic crisis on the charitable sector.  Each week we hear of the deadly impact its having on NGO’s, those a similar size to us, laying off staff, closing projects, downsizing projects, or falling behind in payments.  Even for us, there’s no doubt that the last few months have been some of the hardest for HHA financially. 

What makes this so tragic, is that in one moment of time I sit weighing up the budget for next year looking at possible cuts, and the next I walk through a facility buzzing with life.  A woman in a critical state, suffering with eclampsia is rushed into our maternity ward.  Two new premature babies are bought to our constantly overflowing neo-natal unit.  A hoard of people wait outside the clinic for consultations.  Mothers and toddlers arrive for vaccinations and food supplies.  The ambulance comes and goes with one emergency after another.  The kids centre fills with life – singing, dancing, playing – with the joyful cheers of those wonderful children who inhabit it.  All lives saved, all in just a few moments of time.

These are the patients we fight for, and whilst the economic climate is difficult, we can’t afford to let it to turn our eyes from the worlds poorest who are truly feeling the economic recession more than most.  Despite the current impact on the charity sector, I was encouraged by the perspective of a Professor from Oxfords Department of International Development in a recent Guardian article which clearly stated that poverty can still be eliminated…’Essentially, what is needed is a significant reduction in the quite obscene levels of inequality that prevail today.’  I’d agree with that, and whilst we normally write about our battles with cholera or stigma within Haiti, perhaps the greatest challenge HHA and other NGO’s face in the coming months, is the battle in our own countries to reduce these obscene levels of inequality. 

Here’s some final food for thought from that article…’The average incomes of high-income countries (in Europe, North America and Japan) are more than 70 times the average income of low-income countries. Redistribution of 10% of the incomes of the richest countries would increase the incomes of the poor group of countries by more than ninefold per head, clearly providing poor countries with enough resources to eliminate poverty.’ If we can play our part in succeeding with that, then historic legacies will be left.  If we don’t do that, the cost on human life will be disastrous.  The choice is in part, definitely up to us.  Please make your choice, and choose to continue supporting us today.