March 9, 2009
Dear Friends,
Last week I traveled a new route to Haiti. For the first time in my almost two decades of travel to the hospital, I opted to go through Turks & Caicos instead of my usual Florida connection. I admit I was a little nervous, the familiar comfort spots and landscapes were gone. I ventured into new territory.
This year, some of the landscape and structures at Hôpital Sacré Coeur are also new. At the end of February, the three Daughters of Charity, who had served the hospital community with dedication and skill for ten years, finished their mission and returned to their respective homelands. The hospital stands stronger, larger and more proficient than when they began. At the same time, a highly skilled international building contractor/volunteer completed his on-site, yearlong assessment study of the physical needs of the hospital campus and outlined the multi-years process of working with the Haitian staff to renovate and restructure the buildings and facilities. The hospital stands ready to develop a more durable foundation for the 21st century. The medical staff welcomed a new highly experienced Haitian physician into the expanded role of Medical Director and looks forward to new training opportunities and a higher level of medical services. During the past year, specialty trained Haitian hospital administrators assumed new roles and took over key management responsibilities.
I couldn’t help but think that Hôpital Sacré Coeur had just begun the launch to a much higher altitude and a more promising and expanded vista.
I’m not the only one noticing promising changes for Haiti. A newly released private report for the Secretary General of the United Nations concludes that Haiti offers the best chances of success among all so-called ‘fragile states’ in the world. Last month, Haitian President René Preval became the first head of state to meet with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who told him she had “a soft spot in her heart for Haiti” and pledged to work with the country to build a vibrant democracy and growing economy. Clinton offered a commitment recently shared by the Obama administration and international government and non-government agencies alike.
All eyes are on Haiti. And, Hôpital Sacré Coeur is now positioned to not only begin the launch to more efficient, high impact services, but Hôpital Sacré Coeur has been identified as a prototype of successful cooperative community building and sustainable development for distressed areas around the world. The least among us may indeed become the first among us. Our efforts, the persistent efforts of our donors, volunteers and Haitian staff, continue to make a lasting difference in the lives of the quarter of a million Haitians who call Hôpital Sacré Coeur their center of quality healthcare and their region’s largest employer. And now, all our efforts are poised to serve as a viable model of improved care for the world.
That’s the kind of new territory I am happy and eager to explore!
Our continued insistence on partnering with our Haitian sisters and brothers, our pledge to seed self-empowerment not dependency, and our commitment to the delivery of quality health care has created a landscape of hope and realizable dreams. During a time when institutions around the globe have proven unreliable, unstable and unsustainable, our community of Hôpital Sacré Coeur has shown the way to more meaningful, trustworthy and productive collaborative ventures that save lives worth saving and improve the quality of lives for those living in the poorest of regions.
That’s the kind of community where I want to invest my time, talent and treasures!
President Preval said Haiti was at a very sensitive turning point. So is Hôpital Sacré Coeur. Our success has brought on an even greater demand for our services. Our capacity for an increased range of medical care comes with the responsibility to strengthen our physical foundation. Our increased visibility in a world in need of replicating our successful model of community and human care adds greater moral imperatives to our mission.
My new route to Haiti proved comfortable and even fortuitous as I met new people keen to invest in the future of Hôpital Sacré Coeur. I think the hospital’s new path will prove equally productive.
During this season of Lent, I invite you to join with me, and thousands of others around the globe, as we offer and dedicate our gifts to ensure Hôpital Sacré Coeur’s successful launch into greater heights of service. Please join with us in making sure this continuing venture into sustainable development remains firmly on the path to success. While our immediate priorities and efforts touch individual lives in Haiti, our model of service just may have a powerful lifesaving impact around the globe. What an Easter message that would be!
Thank you again for all you have done and continue to do for our sisters and brothers in Haiti.
God bless you all!
Peter J. Kelly, M.D.
President
