Final Stages of Construction

Excitement mounts as we enter the final stages of construction. We are planning to close the Bois Verna Klinik on March 27th and begin packing and moving to the new clinic in Bourdon. We anticipate about two weeks of training and set up and if all goes according to plan, we'll be open to patients on April 16th.

We are seeking a Pediatric Nurse to assist with training. Visit our volunteer page for more details.

Skylight Installed

Installation of the skylight on the new rehabilitation clinic building was completed on January 25th. It looks incredible! The finishing work within the building is moving along at a rapid pace now as several rooms have received their first coat of paint. The pharmacy room now has tiled counters and the interior doors are being built on site by hand. Healing Hands welcomed visitors from USAID and Handicap International who toured the building and were delighted to see the extent of the facility so close to completion.

Tree Topping Ceremony

The new Healing Hands for Haiti rehabilitation clinic building progress has been amazing and on Friday December 2, we celebrated a milestone. The tree topping ceremony is a traditional and symbolic celebration that occurs when the ‘last beam’ is in place, or in our case when the final cement was poured. We now transition to ‘finishing’ work – plaster finish, tile, paint, cupboards, windows, electrical and plumbing. This finishing work is in progress and we are still on track to open in March or April 2012.

Building Progressing

Progress on the new clinic building is becoming more obvious every day. Visit our Gallery of Photos to see how the construction has developed since its beginnings in March. On any given day, up to 60 people may be working on the site. Architect, Andrew Ripp and Clerk of Works for the ICRC, Alexander Humbert, insure that plans are followed and quality of work and materials is maintained on a daily basis.

Reinforced Main Floor

The main floor is being constructed with two layers of rebar reinforcement that are tied into the side wall rebar struts and columns. Once the two layers are in place, the entire area gets encased in cement at one time. This will most likely take place during overnight shifts because the large quantities have to be delivered by truck and Port au Prince daytime traffic does not allow monitoring of quality. Typically floor rebar comes in mesh form but apparently this is not available in Haiti so the rebar 'mesh' is assembled by hand. The shown area is prosthetic and orthotic fabrication and consultation areas on main floor. The foundation work is still in process for the main floor therapy gym area.

Construction Progress on Rehabilitation Institute April 27

The foundation footings are being worked on and you can see the top of the footing walls on the right (uphill) side of the photo. Two cement mixers are running with a number of workers on site. The ICRC, Msaada Architects and building firm Technique & Construction are working smoothly to handle all the challenges of building in Haiti. HHHI is receiving weekly updates and all staff and visitors are amazed by the quick progress in just six weeks.

Construction Begins on Healing Hands for Haiti Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Institute in Haiti

On March 14, 2011 Healing Hands for Haiti International was proud to announce start of construction of the new outpatient rehabilitation facility sponsored by the International Committee of the Red Cross - Special Fund for the Disabled, on our headquarters property in Port au Prince.

The outpatient building will house prosthetic fabrication, physical therapy and education programs and will be completed within one year. This is the first step in developing Haiti's first Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Institute.

Nadia Bernavil, Haiti's First Spinal Cord Injured Patient Rehabilitation Support Worker

Nadia’s remarkable story began on that fateful day in January of 2010 when the 31-year-old woman was on the second floor of a building that collapsed during the earthquake. Although she did not lose consciousness, Nadia sustained a T11/T12 dislocation and displacement of her spine as the building crumbled below her feet. Nadia was briefly evaluated in Port-au-Prince, transferred to a hospital in the Dominican Republic, then repatriated to Haiti Hospital Appeal in the north of Haiti where she remained as an in-patient for eight months.

Funding Agreement Signed

Over the next twelve months, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Special Fund for the Disabled (SFD), with financial support from the American Red Cross and the Norwegian Red Cross, will rebuild and re-equip – and later help to maintain – one of the most important physical rehabilitation facilities in Haiti.

Seen here, Eric Doubt, Executive Director HHHI and Dr. Ben Nau, Country Medical Director HHHI, present architect's illustration of complex to Mr. Andreas Lendorff, SFD Board member, who signed the funding agreement.

La Klinic Kay Kapab accueille ses premiers patients

On October 15, Healing Hands for Haiti International received the first patients at our new Kay Kapab Klinik situated at #20 Ave. Lamartiniere, Bois Verna, Port-au-Prince.

The two storey rented facility is supported by Direct Relief International which is funding rent, medical salaries and therapy equipment. This will be the temporary medical and administrative headquarters of HHHI while we rebuild our permanent medical campus on our existing property on Rue John Brown.

The Kay Kapab Klinik is staffed by a Medical Director, Clinical Director, Clinic Manager, Rehabilitation Nurse, Registered Nurse, physical therapists, occupational therapists and administrative staff. Staff will assess and provide therapy and follow-up for persons with a variety of disabilities resulting from stroke, heart attack, trauma and injury, amputation, musculoskeletal disorders and genetic conditions.

This event marks the beginning of a return to full services by HHHI since operational facilities were destroyed in the earthquake January 12.

Rebuilding Healing Hands for Haiti

Proposed site plan for redeveloping Healing Hands for Haiti International

HHHI Redevelopment Site Plan - June 2010

We have recently completed demolition of infrastructure destroyed in the earthquake of January 12, 2010. With the help of our partners we are going to rebuild on the original headquarters property. Plans include construction of a Prosthetic and Orthotic building for fabrication, fitting and physiotherapy; a Medical and Administration building to house clinics, pharmacy and offices; an Education and Conference building for teaching programs and meetings. The existing Guesthouse remains in tact and has been renovated. Parking, warehousing and storage facilities will be included. The pre-earthquake plans for Haiti’s first Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Institute are integrated as part of the redevelopment plan, but await further in-country needs analysis.

HHHI Redevelopment Site Plan - June 2010

New Prosthetic and Orthotic facility established in Port au Prince in partnership with Handicap International

Rebuilding Starts Now

The process of redeveloping Healing Hands for Haiti began the day after the earthquake of January 12 of this year. Five months later, we are almost back to full service. A new prosthetic fabrication and physical therapy facility at rented quarters in Port au Prince, developed in partnership with

Supported by our funding partners, Newman's Own Foundation and Direct Relief International, we are about to enter the reconstruction phase. A comprehensive site plan to more fully develop our headquarters on Rue John Brown is in the making. The new Healing Hands for Haiti will include a dedicated Prosthetic Medicine and Rehabilitation Institute on the same property.

Your generous donations, offers to volunteer and to give materials for the herculean rebuilding task, mirror the response of the global community - absolutely overwhelming. Unfortunately, at the moment, we are not able to collect and distribute prostheses, rehabilitation equipment and other medical materials. Please go to Physicians For Peace for assistance. On behalf of all Haitians and our courageous staff and volunteers, we sincerely thank you for your continued support.

Handicap International, has fitted and cared for hundreds of pre and post earthquake amputees and disabled patients. Demolition of destroyed buildings at our main campus is almost finished. Our emergency and Rehab medicine tent clinic at the main site has been closed in anticipation of the opening of a new, rented facility in June to house a modern clinic, physical and occupational therapy rooms, classrooms and offices. We have increased our deployment of rehabilitation medical teams on a weekly rotation basis to hospitals, clinics and orphanages throughout Haiti. Among our special charges are the 150 spinal chord injured who suffered among the most devastating injuries in the earthquake.

Please donate to support HHH services.

Final Stages of Construction

Skylight Installed

Tree Topping Ceremony

Building Progressing

Reinforced Main Floor

Construction Progress on Rehabilitation Institute April 27

Construction Begins on Healing Hands for Haiti Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Institute in Haiti

Nadia Bernavil, Haiti's First Spinal Cord Injured Patient Rehabilitation Support Worker

Funding Agreement Signed

La Klinic Kay Kapab accueille ses premiers patients

Rebuilding Healing Hands for Haiti

Proposed site plan for redeveloping Healing Hands for Haiti International

Rebuilding Starts Now