A Hospital for the People of Léogâne
Dr. Gladys Memnon, Chief Executive Officer, Holy Cross Hospital
Shortly after the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, media outlets rushed to the capital city of Port-au-Prince broadcasting and printing images of the devastation across the globe. The world ached for Haiti. Donations poured into the country. Much of the funds were funneled through non-profit groups promising to make a difference.
Many of the rural areas outside of Port-au-Prince were overlooked in the initial flood of emergency aid and media attention, including Léogâne.
The town of about 180,000 people sits near the coast just 20 miles west of the larger city. Léogâne was at the epicenter of the 7.0 magnitude quake. Eighty to ninety percent of the buildings were heavily damaged and 30,000 people were killed according to United Nations data.
Although, the smaller town was not in the media spotlight Presbyterians know Léogâne well, and we acted – sending $200,000 in immediate relief to Holy Cross Hospital and the area nursing school.
“I’ve learned that in despair, one can find hope,” Dr. Gladys Memnon, Chief Executive Officer of the hospital told us.
In the mid-1970’s, Presbyterians partnered with Haiti’s Episcopal Church (EEH) to build Holy Cross Hospital, the only hospital of its kind in the Léogâne.
It was held to high construction standard and was one of the few buildings still standing after the quake. However, it did sustain some damage and the Haiti Response Team later authorized the release of $775,000 to repair and improve the facility.
“What took place on January 12, 2010, has revived this hospital,” Dr. Memnon said. “Today, it can provide specialty care. It has rebuilt a better community [for those] who saw no hope, no better days for tomorrow.”
Construction on Holy Cross Hospital is expected to be completed in early 2012.
Learn even more about GAMC's recovery efforts in Haiti.
UPDATE: The power of partnership
Our long-time partnership with the Medical Benevolence Foundation has made Holy Cross Hospital possible. Learn more about MBF and our work with them through World Mission and the Haiti Response Team.
