Vitamin Angels recently traveled to the country of Haiti to visit our implementation partner, Hope for Haiti. Through our partnership with this organization and several others, in 2009 we were able to reach 710,500 children and 60,000 lactating mothers with vitamin A supplements, a nutrient that is essential for good health and bodily development. Through similar partnerships, over 33,000 children and 17,200 pregnant and lactating mothers have been provided with essential multivitamins this year.

Haiti has continued to rank year after year as the poorest country in the western hemisphere. According to Unicef, 24% of children under five in the country suffer from moderate to severe stunting. The lack of economic and political stability in the country has intensified problems concerning child development, as violence and lack of infrastructure often prevent improvements in child health and education.

In a recent online interview, Sister Denise, who works at a prenatal clinic in Baraderes, Haiti reached through our partners at Hope for Haiti, shared her thoughts and experiences on maternal and child health in Haiti and on working with Vitamin Angels. Here is an excerpt from the interview:
 

What is a typical diet of a child in Baraderes? 

The typical diet of a child is rice, beans, meat, milk, fruits. Most of the time [it’s] very poor. It is the same for the parents.

What are the most common ailments and diseases that the children and mothers you work with suffer from? What are these ailments a result of?

[They] have malaria, anemia, respiratory infections, intestinal parasites, diarrhea, dermatologic infections, and AIDS. A good meal everyday could help.

How do the vitamins that these children/mothers receive impact their health and their lives?

Those vitamins that these children and mothers receive will help them against infection and protect them [from] other diseases and give them a better health.

What is the current political and economic status of Haiti? How has it affected the health and lives of your beneficiaries?

The current political and economic [situation] [is] awful in my country. People live in extreme poverty. They can’t afford to go to the doctor because it costs money. Some of them die from their diseases.

What are the biggest obstacles to reach those that you serve?

Sometimes the biggest obstacles are the economic support. With money, we can reach them easy.

How has your staff been personally affected the by provision of vitamin supplements for children and/or mothers that you serve?

My staff is very happy about your visit and your donation by providing Vitamin A for the mother and child. Now all the children are going to get their vitamin A. We have started already with some schools in our areas. We thank you very much for visiting us.

Watch this video interview with Sister Denise from our trip to Haiti.

Read more about the issues facing child health in Haiti from Unicef>>
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