In the weeks since Haiti’s Jan. 12 earthquake, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and its partners have mobilized to help, both on the ground in Haiti and from the United States.
Through its partnerships with Church World Service and ACT International, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance was able to help ship baby kits and hygiene kits to Haiti the day after the earthquake, said PDA Coordinator Randy Ackley.
As of Feb. 2, PDA has collected about $2 million in donations for Haiti relief and recovery. So far, $409,000 has been sent — $209,000 for the kits and $200,000 for a Leogane hospital that was damaged in the earthquake.
Hôpital Sainte Croix (Holy Cross Hospital) is a ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti, which has had a long partnership with the PC(USA). The hospital itself is damaged but still standing. Other hospital buildings, like the guest house/administrative block and an apartment building, were destroyed.
Another PC(USA)-related medical facility in Leogane was relatively unharmed by the earthquake and is now providing emergency care to victims.
The Faculty of Nursing Science of the Episcopal University of Haiti (FSIL) is a nursing school supported through a partnership of the PC(USA), the Medical Benevolence Foundation and the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti. People who were displaced by the earthquake have set up makeshift tents on the school ground.
Providing care are six Haitian doctors, student nurses and volunteers as well as international aid organizations from Switzerland and Japan.
FSIL is the only baccalaureate nursing program in Haiti and graduated its first class in January 2009. About 100 students attend the school and live in a dorm on campus.
Information furnished by International Health Ministries.