HAITI HEALTH CLINIC NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION!
Construction Update | GHESKIO Family Health & Nutrition Center | PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI
Steel frame has been erected by Haitian work force, together with small American crew. Estimated Construction Completion: Fall 2014
GHESKIO & THE COMMUNITY SERVED:
The local community surrounding and served by GHESKIO consists of over 100,000 people living in slums and ‘tent cities’ on less than $1/day (as do ~56% of all Haitians). Malnutrition is widespread: Haiti’s malnutrition rates are among the world’s highest. One-third of Haitian children under age five are severely malnourished, and 40% suffer from anemia.
Since 1982, in partnership with the Haitian Government and Cornell University, GHESKIO has been offering free health care, including HIV counseling, AIDS care, prenatal care, and management of tuberculosis and sexually transmitted infections, and conducts research and training in HIV/AIDS and related diseases. In 2000, the Haitian government named GHESKIO a “Public Utility”, a designation reserved for institutions, which are ‘essential to welfare of the Haitian people’. In 2010, GHESKIO was awarded the Bill and Melinda Gates Award for Global Health for its outstanding contributions to the global health field.
Since the earthquake in January 2010 GHESKIO has expanded its mission to also provide comprehensive health care and community services, including reproductive health care, clean water, sanitation, food, security, education and social services.
GHESKIO FAMILY HEALTH & NUTRITION CENTER:
The new Family Health & Nutrition Center, designed by NYC-based firm Tonetti Associates Architects, represents GHESKIO’s new, comprehensive approach to nutrition, clinical care and community development. The design takes into account the many challenges of building in Haiti, while reflecting the purpose and program of the facility. Tonetti Associates Architects investigated sustainable and durable structural systems that can be constructed by a relatively unskilled local work force and chose cold rolled steel frame, which is lighter and resists lateral loads better than concrete frames. Steel frame has been fabricated by Blue Sky Building Systems (http://blueskybuildingsystems.com).
Funding: MAC Aids Foundation grant and private donations. Fundraising still in process to complete construction. Weill Cornell Medical College, a 501(c)(3) organization and partner of GHESKIO since its inception, receives donations.
www.weill.cornell.edu/globalhealth
