The Haiti SCI (confidential) Database was created in March 2010, to try to identify and understand the issues surrounding spinal cord injury (SCI) in Haiti, and is coordinated by Fiona Stephenson RN.
It has been established that the majority of patients with SCI sustained in the earthquake (especially with complete/incomplete paraplegia) are still alive almost two years post trauma. It is the opinion of the Haiti SCI Working Group that these vulnerable men, women and children with disabilities are generally living longer if they receive appropriate care, and that this apparent increase in health status is directly related to NGO’s providing specific SCI care, education of local staff, patients and care givers, introduction of intermittent catheterisation to patients as well as an emphasis on position changes, pressure ulcer risk assessment (Waterlow Tool) and skin care.
Statistics are only as good as the information provided; Out of 300 cases known, 145 were earthquake related. The main cause of SCI since the earthquake, of January 2010, is due to gun violence. The majority of these patients are young men.
To register a person with a spinal cord injury please fill in the Haiti SCI Database information form and email to fistephenson@gmail.com. Be sure to mark 'Confidential' in the subject heading.
This data is only a glimpse of the reality in Haiti, and there is a lot more work to be done to get a true picture. Thank you in advance for your help.