Once again, in the face of profound medical and national challenges, Hôpital Sacré Coeur pulled through with flying colors. While remaining vigilant and prudently cautious, we all seem to be breathing easier — and more than a little stunned by the progress!
Last year, many Haitian hospitals closed their doors – some temporarily, some repeatedly and others for the foreseeable future. Hôpital Sacré Coeur staged down to essential services for needed repairs for only a few brief weeks.
Even with that interlude, the yearend tally of services rendered marked another impressive year: 54,793 outpatient visits, 6,380 admissions, 2,431 surgical procedures, 3,642 emergency room visits, 1,882 newborn deliveries, 121,409 lab tests, 11,859 diagnostic tests, and 256,656 prescriptions filled. At a time and in a nation where so many ran for cover in 2021, Hôpital Sacré Coeur staff expertly and courageously stepped up and engaged in nearly 460,000 patient interactions.
Excellent medical services weren’t all Hôpital Sacré Coeur delivered. Thanks to the amazing support from donors across the United States and from Europe, the immediate Milot community and the greater region benefited by tuitions paid, houses built, structural improvements made to buildings and facilities, critical medical outreach extended for pre-natal care, vaccines, preventive healthcare education, and pediatric diabetes care. In a region suffering with the horrid specter of starvation and chronic food insecurity, Hôpital Sacré Coeur received more than 400,000 nutritional meals from our Feed Haiti packathons.
Hôpital Sacré Coeur delivered essential support to struggling Haitians by offering exceptional whole person healthcare and helping Haitians build a stable community for individuals and families to pursue their lives and passionate dreams. Amidst a season of profound despair, Hôpital Sacré Coeur delivered priceless hope, possibilities, and stability — thanks to a compassionate staff and an empathetic, extremely generous donor community.
Holy Name CEO Mike Maron, HSC CEO Harold Prévil, Dr. Dave Butler, Dr. Jim Morgan during January 2022 trip to Milot)
On a More Personal Note
While visiting Milot and Hôpital Sacré Coeur in the midst of the Covid pandemic in January 2022, I was struck by how well the town and the people seemed to be faring. The people were upbeat, cooperative, and welcoming. The town was clean, lively, and functioning well. This in spite of having seen nothing but frightening and depressing reports from Haiti over the past 18 months.
I attribute this remarkable situation to two things — First, the resilience of the Haitian people, which has been demonstrated repeatedly over their nation’s history. And secondly — a new factor to me — Hôpital Sacré Coeur, thanks to you who support the mission with your time, talent, and treasure, has become the major economic force, not only for healthcare, but for food, housing, and social well-being for the 35,000 people of Milot and the more than 250,000 people in the greater Milot district. If you add in the fact that Hôpital Sacré Coeur is the major reference hospital for the more than 2,500,000 people in the northern region of the country, it is breathtaking how important Hôpital Sacré Coeur has become to Northern Haiti.
I don’t think that Brother Yves, Dr. Ted Dubuque, and Carlos Reese, so important in the early days of the hospital’s existence, could have ever imagined that Hôpital Sacré Coeur would grow to be as vital to Haiti as it has become.
The incredible support provided by the volunteers, thousands of contributors, and Holy Name Medical Center has enabled Hôpital Sacré Coeur to mean so much to so many people. It is not stretching the truth to say that without all of you, the misery suffered by the people of the area would have been unbearable. Over the many decades of your support, the people have embraced the opportunities provided, added their ingenuity and personal efforts to fashion a truly unique community. They parlayed your gifts into countless personal achievements, care for each other, and community betterment.
The investment you have made has produced a real-life return: life-enhancing impact on everyday life.
I have heard expressed repeatedly how grateful the people are for your aid. The people realize that having Hôpital Sacré Coeur in Milot has been an incredible advantage, enabling them to live their lives in ways rarely available to other Haitians.
You need look no further than the documented positive, significant impact your love, prayers, dollars, and efforts have made — much of which indeed seems miraculous.
Thank you all for your generosity. The people of Milot are eternally grateful. Please continue your life-giving support. Donate today.
You should look forward to being stunned by more breathtaking progress.
With heartfelt appreciation for you!
David G. Butler, M.D.
Chairman, Haiti Health Promise of Holy Name
Founded as The CRUDEM Foundation
Please, send your tax-deductible donation by April 1st.
100% of your donation goes directly to patient care and community programs.
