Our emergency ambulance service has saved many lives responding to road accidents, transporting patients in need of surgery and providing support after the earthquake.
‘Through their courage to act, compassion, competence, and hard work, we have no doubt that HHA will continue to make a significant difference for the people of Northern Haiti.’
Nate Nickerson RN, DrPH, Executive Director, Konbit Sante
Our 4×4 Ambulance Service
In 2008 HHA launched an urgently needed emergency response service in North Haiti, one of the first of its kind. Touched first hand by the tragic reality of people dying simply through a lack of appropriate emergency support, a church and school in the UK chipped together and funded a 4×4 Toyota Landcruiser Ambulance. The 24/7 service provides life saving support to a host of incidents every week, supporting local communities, medical facilities, the UN and Haitian Ministry of Health.
The majority of our work supports…
Maternity Based Emergencies:
In 2005 there were an estimated 530,000 maternal deaths worldwide, 99% of which took place in developing countries like Haiti. The majority of these deaths could have been avoided with appropriate care.
Haiti has the highest rate of maternal mortality in the Western Hemisphere. 75% of babies are delivered in Haiti outside of hospitals, with minimal or no medical support. Some Traditional Birth Attendants (TBA’s) who support these births have little or no support if there is a complication at birth. Many maternal deaths are subsequently a result of poor access to appropriate medical care.
The HHA ambulance provides a free service to a range of maternity based emergencies, supporting TBA’s on the field through a rapid response system. In partnership with Konbit Sante we are distributing solar powered phones to over 60 TBA’s so they contact our ambulance at any time of day or night for emergency assistance.
Through this service the lives of many women and children have been saved. It’s often almost impossible for people to access care late at night in Haiti, and without our service, many would reach hospitals the following morning too late.
Road Traffic Accidents:
It is commonly accepted across the world that the first 60 minutes (The Golden Hour) after a traumatic injury are the most urgent in determining whether a patient will live or die. Some historical research into wound data and causality rates has stated that more than 90% of all causalities die within this ‘golden hour’ when they don’t receive medical support. The first 60 minutes are incredibly urgent.
However, with few or no ambulances available across much of Haiti, patients often reach hospital too late. It’s not uncommon to see people taken to hospital with life threatening injuries on the back of motor bikes, pick up trucks or public ‘Tap Taps.’
Our ambulance serves Cap-Haitien, Haiti’s second largest city. With an increasing population, the development of new and subsequently faster roads, and an increase in motor bikes, road accidents are increasingly more common. Advertised through the local communities, people call our ambulance for a host of traumatic injuries.
Many patients have been saved through the quick response of our ambulance, a service we’re keen to develop through your support. HHA covers all the salary and running costs of this service. If you’d like to help support this urgent work, please contact us today or make a donation.