By John Lovejoy, Jr., M.D.
Just as a refresher: Haiti has a population of about 10 million. According to the Haitian government, there are about 800,000 disabled and 50,000 in need of Prosthetic and Orthotic care. After the earthquake of 2010, there were another 4-6,000 amputees.
Module I: Lower Extremity
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Module II: Lower Limb
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Haiti had no certified Prosthetist and Orthotist. Several organizations came to help in Port-au-Prince, but none in northern Haiti, and northern Haiti had 1,500 new amputees. To address this problem we needed not only to provide prosthesis, but to educate Haitians to become certified with a college degree and develop a sustainable program. It is a three year journey for the students and an undertaking for us to support it financially. Fortunately, we hired Oscar Bermudez from El Salvador, who trained at the University of Don Bosco which has developed a long distance learning program in orthotics and prosthetics.
The program consists of five modules taught over three years. There are online studies, practical application supervised by a teacher tutor in Haiti and examined by a UDB teacher. Each module costs $2,000/student plus expenses for the teacher to come and examine.
Module III: Lower and Upper Limb
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Each module consists of a study of the anatomy, pathology, biomechanics, material options, and practical construction and examination.
Our students have finished the first four modules and are working on the fifth. They will complete the course the first of next year, take their exam, and I am confident they will pass and become college graduates and certified. When their class graduates, they will be the first certified prosthetists in northern Haiti. They will be hired by Hôpital Sacré Coeur and have agreed to stay on three more years and train two more students.
Our goal is to give Haitians the training, tools and opportunity to treat their own. This is the best thing we can do for Haiti. We know where 100% of the money goes. We calculated that it is a 30 fold return on investments; we have no government interference, we are training Haitians to care for their own. We are providing jobs; and most importantly, we are improving the quality of life for its citizens.
Thank you for your support!. We hope you continue to support us financially and in your thoughts and prayers. It is challenging, but worth the effort and with you support, we will continue.
Module IV: Upper Limb Prostheses & Module V: Spine Orthoses
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