Child Survival Program in Haiti

Child Survival Program - Haiti

We operate the Child Survival Program in both the rural and peri-urban areas of Petion-Ville just outside of Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti. Partial funding is provided through the USAID Haiti Mission with an even greater dependency on individual private and public contributions. See how you can help.

The immediate goals of this project are to save the lives of mothers and their children from birth through age five. We provide access to safe deliveries and work daily to prevent deaths among children from such causes as malnutrition, diarrhea, and pneumonia. FOCAS' long-term objective is to transfer the leadership of this program over to our Haitian partners as they develop the capacity to become self-sustaining. As this project gains success and sustainability, we hope to be able to evaluate other project initiatives and locations.

How it began
In 1997, FOCAS began the Child Survival Program in two districts of Petion-Ville, Haiti, serving a population of about 100,000. This was made possible with matching grant funds from USAID, the U.S. Agency for International Development. FOCAS combined this funding with existing resources from its long involvement in Haiti (since 1986), a mentoring relationship with Curamericas, and partnerships with local health organizations in Haiti, Mission Evangelique Internationale (MEI) and Oeuvres de Bienfaisance et de Developpement Communautaire (OBDC).

Pa - Za - Pa (Step by Step)

Project Goals

Substantially reduce the rates of diseases and death among children and women of childbearing age in the project area.

Increase access to high quality, basic health care services in the project area through five program clinics and community outreach activities.

Assist indigenous organizations to successfully operate sustainable programs.

Child Survival Program Action Plan

Offer intense community-based health education programs and services for mothers and children through rally posts and home visits, following a complete community census.

Improve children's nutritional status through growth monitoring, health education and Vitamin-A supplementation, and the provision of deworming medicines.

Assist families with child spacing services and counseling to improve the health of mothers and increase survivability of infants.

Train families to rapidly identify and get help for children with pneumonia and diarrhea - - the two most life-threatening diseases for young children.

Vaccinate children against tuberculosis, polio, tetanus, diphtheria, whooping cough and measles.

Provide special care for mothers and their babies during pregnancy, delivery and infancy.

Provide safe drinking water and sanitation resources.

Implement a microenterprise program in partnership with World Relief to provide a means of income generation for area Haitian families.

Results (currently serving a population of approximately 100,000)

Decline in under-five death rates (U5MR), OBDS: Decline of 31% in 4 years (from 68/1000 to 47/1000); MEI: Decline of 65% in 4 years (from 188/1000 to 66/1000)

Links to Other Resources
IES: The Institute of Environmental Sciences, of the Graduate School of Miami University, was developed in 1969. The Institute houses one of the oldest Master of Environmental Science (M.En) professional degree programs in the United States. The program philosophy emphasizes both a systematic and interdisciplinary approach to environmental issues. The degree prepares students for work in public service, government, education, and nonprofit environmental organizations. Students at IES and the university's Department of Geology partnered with FOCAS to conduct a water quality study in Haiti in July of 2002. Ongoing efforts will continue for the provision of safe drinking water in both urban and rural communities.

La Leche League International (LLLI): Founded in 1956 by seven women who had learned about successful breastfeeding while nursing their own babies, La Leche League is the only organization with the sole purpose of helping breastfeeding mothers. LLLI has replicated its mother-to-mother support strategy in more than 64 countries, through the volunteer efforts of over 40,000 women who have been accredited as LLL Leaders. La Leche League International, in collaboration with the Foundation of Compassionate American Samaritans (FOCAS) will improve the health of Haitian infants and mothers through the promotion and support of exclusive breastfeeding (0-6 months), timely initiation of appropriate complementary foods, and the establishment of mother-to-mother support groups. Women will be trained as breastfeeding peer counselors and will facilitate the support groups in their respective communities.

Sharing the Love of Jesus Christ
FOCAS provides not only for the physical health of individuals but also for their spiritual development in the project area. Local church leaders and pastors form evangelical teams in order to witness to community member. Through tracts, children's coloring books, flannel graphs, puppet shows, dramas, personal testimonies and counseling, the teams meet the spiritual needs of the people in Haiti.

Back to Haiti Programs
Child Sponsor Program

To see lives transformed by the truth and power of Jesus Christ



	Child Survival Program - Haiti We operate the Child Survival Program in both the rural and peri-urban areas of Petion-Ville just outside of Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti. Partial funding is provided through the USAID Haiti Mission with an even greater dependency on individual private and public contributions. See how you can help. The immediate goals of this project are to save the lives of mothers and their children from birth through age five. We provide access to safe deliveries and work daily to prevent deaths among children from such causes as malnutrition, diarrhea, and pneumonia. FOCAS' long-term objective is to transfer the leadership of this program over to our Haitian partners as they develop the capacity to become self-sustaining. As this project gains success and sustainability, we hope to be able to evaluate other project initiatives and locations. How it began In 1997, FOCAS began the Child Survival Program in two districts of Petion-Ville, Haiti, serving a population of about 100,000. This was made possible with matching grant funds from USAID, the U.S. Agency for International Development. FOCAS combined this funding with existing resources from its long involvement in Haiti (since 1986), a mentoring relationship with Curamericas, and partnerships with local health organizations in Haiti, Mission Evangelique Internationale (MEI) and Oeuvres de Bienfaisance et de Developpement Communautaire (OBDC). *Pa - Za - Pa (Step by Step)* Project Goals Substantially reduce the rates of diseases and death among children and women of childbearing age in the project area. Increase access to high quality, basic health care services in the project area through five program clinics and community outreach activities. Assist indigenous organizations to successfully operate sustainable programs. Child Survival Program Action Plan Offer intense community-based health education programs and services for mothers and children through rally posts and home visits, following a complete community census. Improve children's nutritional status through growth monitoring, health education and Vitamin-A supplementation, and the provision of deworming medicines. Assist families with child spacing services and counseling to improve the health of mothers and increase survivability of infants. Train families to rapidly identify and get help for children with pneumonia and diarrhea - - the two most life-threatening diseases for young children. Vaccinate children against tuberculosis, polio, tetanus, diphtheria, whooping cough and measles. Provide special care for mothers and their babies during pregnancy, delivery and infancy. Provide safe drinking water and sanitation resources. Implement a microenterprise program in partnership with World Relief to provide a means of income generation for area Haitian families. Results (currently serving a population of approximately 100,000) Decline in under-five death rates (U5MR), OBDS: Decline of 31% in 4 years (from 68/1000 to 47/1000); MEI: Decline of 65% in 4 years (from 188/1000 to 66/1000) Steady decline in malnutrition rates revealed in ongoing growth monitoring data (46% (MEI) to 64% (OBDC) drop in moderate to severe malnutrition from 1998 to 2002). Over 2/3 of children are fully immunized before their fisrt birthday: MEI: 67%, OBDC: 70%. More than 3/4 of mothers use a trained traditional birth attendant (provision of safe delivery practices to prevent deaths of mothers and infants during deliveries). Links to Other Resources IES: The Institute of Environmental Sciences, of the Graduate School of Miami University, was developed in 1969. The Institute houses one of the oldest Master of Environmental Science (M.En) professional degree programs in the United States. The program philosophy emphasizes both a systematic and interdisciplinary approach to environmental issues. The degree prepares students for work in public service, government, education, and nonprofit environmental organizations. Students at IES and the university's Department of Geology partnered with FOCAS to conduct a water quality study in Haiti in July of 2002. Ongoing efforts will continue for the provision of safe drinking water in both urban and rural communities. La Leche League International (LLLI): Founded in 1956 by seven women who had learned about successful breastfeeding while nursing their own babies, La Leche League is the only organization with the sole purpose of helping breastfeeding mothers. LLLI has replicated its mother-to-mother support strategy in more than 64 countries, through the volunteer efforts of over 40,000 women who have been accredited as LLL Leaders. La Leche League International, in collaboration with the Foundation of Compassionate American Samaritans (FOCAS) will improve the health of Haitian infants and mothers through the promotion and support of exclusive breastfeeding (0-6 months), timely initiation of appropriate complementary foods, and the establishment of mother-to-mother support groups. Women will be trained as breastfeeding peer counselors and will facilitate the support groups in their respective communities. Sharing the Love of Jesus Christ FOCAS provides not only for the physical health of individuals but also for their spiritual development in the project area. Local church leaders and pastors form evangelical teams in order to witness to community member. Through tracts, children's coloring books, flannel graphs, puppet shows, dramas, personal testimonies and counseling, the teams meet the spiritual needs of the people in Haiti. Back to Haiti Programs Child Sponsor Program