Vital Haiti franchise renewed for another year |
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| Agreement allows Konbit Sante to import medical supplies and equipment duty-free for healthcare partners |
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 | | COVID-19 materials and other supplies are loaded onto a shipping container at Konbit Sante's Maine warehouse last spring. Konbit Sante has renewed its franchise with the Haiti government to continue importing goods duty-free to our partner facilities for another year. |
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We are pleased to announce that we recently renewed our franchise with the Haitian government for the 11th year. The franchise, which is renewed annually, permits Konbit Sante to legally import medical supplies and equipment duty-free to support the provision of quality health care by our partners and other facilities in the Grand North of Haiti.
The renewal process requires us to submit a detailed program plan, import list, and report every year to be reviewed and approved by the government of Haiti. We applaud our very capable staff in Cap-Haitien, who have guided us through the sometimes complicated process of meeting all our legal obligations in order to maintain good standing with the health and governmental authorities of the country.
The franchise has become an important part of our work. Already this year, we have consigned 14 containers (and have two pending). In addition to our usual annual container of donated medical supplies and equipment that is shipped from our Maine warehouse, we work with partners such as Direct Relief, The Dalton Foundation, Hope Health Action, Citizens of the World, Walkabout Foundation, Rise Against Hunger, Humanitarian Radiology Development Corps, HOPE International Development Agency, and others to meet the specific needs of our partners and their patients.
Over the years, we have brought essential medications, medical equipment, wheelchairs, emergency food rations, and general health facility supplies to our partners. Of course, this year there has been an emphasis on COVID-19-related equipment and supplies such as Personal Protective Equipment and oxygen concentrators, tanks, and analyzers.
However, the work does not stop with the delivery of supplies. Our staff continues to work closely with our facility partners to effectively use equipment, train and supervise those using the equipment, manage their depot of supplies and parts, regularly maintain and repair equipment, and assess the quality of care received by patients. Your continued support helps ensure that all of this occurs on a regular basis, which is turn helps increase the quality of healthcare services to our partners’ communities. |
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We Walk with Haiti funds having direct impact on communities |
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 | | Photos from top: Konbit Sante Assistant Project Manager Saminetha Joseph displays some of the buckets used for handwashing stations; an agent de santé distributes COVID-19 prevention materials to the public; a worker sorts masks purchased by Konbit Sante from local seamstresses; an agent de santé administers a vaccine to a child at a community outreach post. |
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Money raised from June's We Walk with Haiti fundraising campaign is being put to good use by agents de santé (community health workers) and our healthcare partner facilities in North Haiti. Thanks to your generosity, they are able to continue distributing masks, maintain hand-washing stations, educate the public about COVID-19 prevention and detection, and provide healthcare outreach in a safe manner.
This is just one example of how funds raised from We Walk with Haiti are having an immediate impact on communities served by our partner facilities in Haiti. We will continue to keep you apprised of the many ways your donation is helping to improve health care and build a sustainable health system in Greater Cap-Haitien. Mesi anpil! (Many thanks!) |
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Repairs complete on ULS retaining wall damaged by storm |
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Last December, a torrential rainstorm destroyed one of four exterior retaining walls at the ULS health center, one of our healthcare partner facilities in Greater Cap-Haitien. The clinic is located on the side of a mountain, where dry ravines can quickly turn into forceful rivers and cause extensive damage to the residential neighborhood located below. Therefore, it was imperative that the wall be rebuilt, and Konbit Sante provided funds and expertise to help ULS replace it.
The project was beset by construction delays, but we are happy to report that the wall reconstruction is now complete. The new wall has deeper and wider footings to help ensure it will not fail like the previous one. The photos below show the wall following the December storm and after repairs were completed. |
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