According to a report by the Haitian Government, 80% of roads in Haiti are in bad or very bad condition, some of them nearly impassable. The area served by HAS covers 610 square miles, about the size of Houston, Texas, and reaches more than 350, 000 people in the lower Artibonite Valley of Haiti, many of whom live in remote mountain areas accessible only by dirt roads and footpaths.
HAS relies on skilled drivers and a few trusted vehicles that require daily maintenance to transport vaccines, medicine, and staff to treat some of its neediest patients, many of whom have no easy means of transportation to the hospital and benefit from having healthcare options closer to their homes. Those residing in the mountains in need of immediate medical attention must make the hours-long trip to the hospital on foot, horseback, or be carried by relatives on a stretcher.
Despite the challenges, HAS is dedicated to helping all of our district residents prevent and treat illness.