Orthotics & Prosthetics

“Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day, teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.”

What is an orthosis?

• An orthopedic appliance or apparatus used to support, align, prevent, or correct deformities or to improve the function of movable parts of the body.

What is a Prosthesis?

• An artificial substitute for a missing body part, such as an arm or leg, used for functional or cosmetic reasons, or both.

Healing Hands for Haiti has been providing Orthotic and Prosthetic (O&P) services to the people of Haiti since 1998.

To form a base of learning, this work was initially performed by Prosthetists and Orthotists from the US and Canada. However, for our project to be truly sustainable, we knew that the key to success lie in Haiti, not in North America. Therefore, after some searching, we identified several Haitians to begin O&P training. As of 2006, four full time Haitian Techs produce nearly all of Healing Hands limbs and braces from our clinic in Port-au-Prince. The North American Orthotists and Prosthetists now serve as teachers. Our role as the primary care giver has been handed over to the Haitians.

How can you help?

If you’d like to assist Healing Hands for Haiti with our O&P project, we have three ongoing needs: Teachers, supplies and monetary donations.

• Consider spending a week at our Clinic in Port-au-Prince, mentoring our technicians.
• Consider donating supplies such as new or usable artificial limbs or bracing.
• Consider a cash donation to help with clinic needs such as personnel or upkeep.