Your Urgent Help is Needed
After more than a year of relatively and puzzlingly low COVID-19 cases, Haiti now stands in the grip of a rapid acceleration of the virus. The World Health Organization expressed their concern about the alarming increase and the potentially tragic effects on Haitians. Likewise, Haiti’s Ministry of Public Health and Population echoed the grave warning, particularly with their discovery of the Brazilian and UK variants in the virus. The quick onslaught of new cases threatens to overwhelm the nation’s already limited medical facilities.
In response to the new threat, the Haitian government imposed a 10 pm to 5 am curfew, reiterated the need for masks and to socially distance at least 5 feet, reduced staff at public institutions by half, and required temperature checks at banks, schools, hospitals, and markets. Like other nations around the globe, entry into Haiti requires proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of arrival.
While the people take heed, the virus does not — daily the cases continue to spike. Regrettably, Haiti does not anticipate getting the vaccine until possibly June. Even then, widespread vaccine distribution will be challenging and slow.
Hôpital Sacré Coeur’s exemplary reputation for excellent medical care motivates the stream of patients from around the region. For many in the nation — including medical clinics — Hôpital Sacré Coeur remains the hospital of hope.
Recently, a regional medical clinic transferred an elderly man infected with the virus to Hôpital Sacré Coeur. The gentleman presented in critical condition with unstable vital signs and a steady, rapid decrease in his oxygen saturation rates — a challenging and gravely concerning situation for any physician in the world.
The ICU and other medical staff got to work. Staff followed COVID-19 treatment protocol, relentlessly tended to him 24/7 and buttressed their medical expertise with a heavy dose of prayer and love. Four days later, the elderly man who sat on death’s doorway, walked out of the hospital — to the profound gratitude of his family. Thanks to Hôpital Sacré Coeur, he now has — literally — a new lease on life.
While many might consider this patient’s outcome miraculous — the patient and his family certainly do — the extraordinarily competent Staff at Hôpital Sacré Coeur considers it typical. The hospital motto: “Together for a Better Quality of Care” gets played out daily. And you, the donor, take pride of place in ensuring that Hôpital Sacré Coeur has all the supplies, equipment, and medical personnel to be the hospital of hope.
Right now, 25 desperately ill people — aged 50 to 90 — stricken with COVID-19 occupy beds in the hospital’s isolation rooms — 90% of these patients have comorbidities like hypertension and diabetes. Over the last 2 weeks, 36 patients have been admitted, of those patients 9 were discharged and 2 died. More patients arrive daily for treatment and possible hospitalization. Hôpital Sacré Coeur expects the number of in patients to rise very quickly and has designated 100 – 120 beds for patients with COVID-19.
All of these patients are dependent on oxygen administered either by nasal cannulas or CPAP. The hospital’s oxygen generator is running 24 hours a day. Such an intense pace stresses the generator despite careful monitoring.
Several supplies need to be purchased immediately:
• Back up oxygen generator
• oxygen tanks
• oxygen cannulas
• oxygen flow meters
• CPAP masks
• Gloves
• Bleach
Hôpital Sacré Coeur successfully negotiated over a year of COVID-19 patients and became a national resource for rapid response and treatment. The sudden and dangerous spike threatens the hospital’s cache of critical supplies. Moments count. Lives matter — someone’s beloved parents’, grandparents’, aunts’, and uncles’ lives hang in the balance.
Now, your help is essential to successfully tackle this terrifying, growing threat.
Please, make a generous donation today. We remain determined not to leave any patient behind.
With our deepest appreciation and gratitude for you,
 Harold Prévil, M.D. CEO, Hôpital Sacré Coeur |
 Sister Ann Crawley, C.S.J.P. Hôpital Sacré Coeur Outreach |
 David G. Butler, M.D. Chairman, Haiti Health Promise of Holy Name Founded as The CRUDEM Foundation |
