HAS recently hosted a weeklong small-group visit organized by Project C.U.R.E. as part of its PhilanthroTravel program, which offers unique opportunities for supporters of Project C.U.R.E to connect first-hand with the organization’s work around the world. Project C.U.R.E. is an industry leader in developing new ways to provide the highest quality donated medical supplies and equipment possible to resource-limited communities across the globe. Project C.U.R.E. began its partnership with HAS last year, and shipped its first container to the hospital in June of 2013. The container included many vital supplies, such as patient beds, operating room lights, ICU/surgery monitors, and exam and treatment tables. Additionally, two of the trip members, Thomas McCracken and Jennifer Tobias, made a generous donation of a cast cutter and sagittal saw to HAS.
Led by Project C.U.R.E Philanthro/Clinic Trip Ambassador Karen Failinger, the group toured the hospital and HAS medical depot, where they learned about the container of medical supplies HAS received last June thanks to Project C.U.R.E. In addition, Karen and Project C.U.R.E volunteer Judy Torrance were able to conduct a post-delivery assessment for the container, to gauge the impact of the donation and begin planning for future container shipments. The group also got an up-close look at a variety of HAS’ community health programs, with a trip to the community health center in the mountain community of Bastien, a visit to the campus tree nursery, a tour of the HAS Prosthetics & Orthotics Lab, and evening events featuring conversation and Q&A with HAS subject matter experts.
Project C.U.R.E visitors also experienced the vibrancy of our home community of Deschapelles and surrounding areas through tours of a local market, a fort and historic center in nearby Petit Riviere, and a visit to the waterfalls of Sodo, widely regarded throughout Haiti as a special location.
HAS staff members were delighted to welcome the group and have the opportunity to share our work and aspirations with them. All of us at HAS are grateful to Karen and the team at Project C.U.R.E for introducing us to such wonderful people, and for the continued generous support of Project C.U.R.E.