Saving Lives Through Surgery
The Jim Wilmot Surgical Center
The Need: Haiti, ravaged by natural disasters, diseases and systemic poverty, is in need of recovery. For those in Jacmel, in South East Haiti whose only public hospital, Saint Michel, was severely damaged in the 2010 earthquake, lifesaving surgery is not only costly but often unavailable. As a result, 500,000 people are dependent on a surgical system with inadequate staff and facilities.
Why CCH? Having treated the sick and injured in Haiti for over 23 years, CCH continues to provide improved healthcare in the South East–particularly acute and chronic care and recovery services since the earthquake.
An Opportunity: By addressing the physical and medical needs of communities, CCH is able to show God’s love to those who are hurt and in need of care. In 2012, CCH completed the Jim Wilmot Surgical Center in honor of Jim Wilmot, AIA, who designed the center in Haiti, but passed away suddenly on January 10, 2011.
Vision:
1) Provide lifesaving surgery to South East residents, in cooperation with the Haitian Ministry of Health. Approximately 70% of Haitians don’t have access to healthcare. Surgery is performed only as a last resort, and unless Haitians have access to a well-trained surgeon, the results are usually not successful.
2) Increase area hospitals’ surgical ability in terms of equipment provision and knowledge transfer. CCH brings volunteer surgeons, nurses and medical staff from the U.S. and Canada to train Haitian health professionals in advanced surgical procedures and patient care, including anesthesiology, infection control, patient care, biomedical repair and other areas.
3) Install and equip two operating rooms. CCH’s Portail Leogane facility has two new operating rooms plus pre- and post-op areas.
Costs: Sponsorship for Surgeries $2,500/month; Full Sponsorship $25,000/year