Haiti’s Public Health and Population Ministry entrusted HumaniTerra with the reconstruction of the National Nursing School of Port-au-Prince which collapsed during the earthquake, killing a large number of student nurses and teachers. Training scrub nurses and nurse anesthetists was also part of the mission.
HumaniTerra International delivered the new National Nursing School of Port-au-Prince (ENIP) to the Public Health and Population Ministry on January 24, 2012. It is a 1,000 m² prefabricated, movable, modular, anti-seismic and anti-cyclonic training centre built from refurbished shipping containers that can accommodate 300 students. The new building opened its doors in February, and students that had been taking classes in makeshift tents were finally able to follow instruction in new, air-conditioned classrooms.
Partners: Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs Crisis Centre, Foundation de France, Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur region, Lions Club International Foundation, Stérience
Training in Specialized Nursing Care: Well before the earthquake, there was a severe shortage of paramedical personnel trained in anesthetics and operating theatre specializations, which made surgeons’ work more difficult. In the Port-au-Prince University’s Hospital, HumaniTerra trains and strengthens the skills of operating theatre nurses and nurse anesthetists. It also ensures the training of two head nurses, themselves trainers in their specializations, who will be in charge of program follow-up.
The Republic of Haiti is confronted with a high maternal and neonatal mortality rate, and with the low status of women in society. More specifically, the island must face the problems of insufficient quality in the care provided to pregnant women and victims of sexual violence. The maternal and neonatal mortality rate there is the highest in all the Americas, and Haiti only has 174 midwives for every 10 million inhabitants (or 1 midwife per 60,000 inhabitants, compared with 1 per 3,500 inhabitants in France), while each year only about 20 midwives graduate.
