Haiti Earthquake Update

It’s been almost three weeks now since Haiti’s southwestern Tiburon Peninsula was hit by a magnitude 7.2 earthquake on August 14, 2021. 

Unfortunately, the earthquake damaged many homes and buildings including more remote medical facilities. Team Canada Healing Hands has been in contact with our Haitian Partners who have quickly mobilized to help assess and provide urgent medical care to residents affected by the earthquake. They have created mobile clinics and are travelling to remote areas to provide needed care. Included in these teams is our peer liaison for spinal cord injuries who is currently on the ground assessing spinal cord injury needs.

In discussion with our partners, we have learned that injuries thus far include orthopedic injuries, such as pelvic and limb fractures, amputations, head injuries and spinal cord injuries. As time is progressing, medical teams are seeing more infections from wounds that have developed, and doctors are expecting amputations to increase due to people not having been able to get to the medical care they need quickly enough.

Those most severely injured have been transported to Bernard Mevs Hospital in Port-au-Prince. St. Boniface Hospital, the closest hospital to the epicentee, has been able to provide treatment and care needed. HHA in Cap Haitien is ready to assist with rehabilitation needs including wheelchairs and spinal cord injury rehabilitation. Healing Hands for Haiti in Port-au-Prince is well positioned to help with rehabilitation needs including prosthetics and orthotics.

Although Team Canada Healing Hands is presently unable to travel directly to Haiti due to safety concerns with regards to COVID and the recent political unrest in the country, we remain committed to assisting our Haitian Partners in caring for those injured, both acutely and in the rehabilitation phase. To achieve this, 100% of the funds donated will go directly to our Haitian Partners who are currently on the ground providing rehabilitation care to those who have been injured.

Please donate to Team Canada Healing Hand’s Earthquake fund

Thank you for your support.