Limited healthcare services and poverty cause many Haitians to become disabled. Despite the crushing effects a disability can have on an individual or a family, especially in prime years of income generation and family responsibilities, there are few services for people with disabilities available in the country. Disability or the loss of a limb in Haiti quickly translates into a loss of livelihood and economic security, in an already fragile economic environment.

In Haiti, the rehabilitation professions, such as physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy, are virtually non-existent. People with disabilities often live isolated existences and are given few opportunities to contribute to the betterment of their communities. The Friends-sponsored Rehabilitation Technician Training Program (RTTP) aims to change this situation by improving the health of people in the Artibonite Valley and improving quality of life by reducing the burden of disability. Conceived in 2007, this program was created to have direct and lasting effects on the 610 square mile service area of Hôpital Albert Schweitzer Haiti and to have spin-off effects on the rest of the country. It is designed to establish an appropriate model of service and build professional infrastructure for rehabilitation services in Haiti.

After the recent, devastating earthquake hit Haiti in January of 2010, the RTTP proved itself essential to the hospital infrastructure as our technicians were able to successfully identify and meet HAS Haiti's outstanding need for rehabilitative care for victims of traumatic injury. In the two weeks following the earthquake,the hospital's 80-bed hospital facility accommodated and treated over 1,000 earthquake victims, mostly major surgical cases. These victims required immediate, thoughtful care to stabilize their conditions, as well as more prolonged advice for long-term rehabilitation.

Now that this influx of trauma victims is abating, HAS Haiti has launched a new long-term prosthetic and rehabilitation center in partnership with the Haitian Amputee Coalition, which compliments the RTTP. Through the creation of this center, the opportunity has arisen for HAS Haiti to play a significant role in the future of Haiti's healthcare by serving as one of eight planned centers for the provision of artificial limbs. This exciting new initiative is consistent with our mission of supporting HAS Haiti in serving the healthcare needs of the people of Haiti, with a focis on the Artibonite Valley.

See the RTTP slideshow on the Friends' Flickr site HERE!

Read recent Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Article about the RTTP: "Physical Therapists in Haiti Get Support from Schweitzer Nonprofits"