The ongoing social, political and economic crisis in Haiti creates enormous challenges. Bethesda Medical Center excels in caring for the poor and underserved day and night in the face of uncertainty.
One night at 11:00 PM, a 9-year-old girl was rushed into the emergency room of the Bethesda Medical Center in Haiti struggling to breathe. She was having a severe asthma attack. Every breath was a fight. Her family told a painful story: they had gone to several clinics, but no one could help them because there was no electricity. When they arrived at Bethesda the situation was critical. Thanks to the small solar power system, emergency staff were able to turn on the equipment immediately and start nebulization treatment. Minutes later, her breathing began to improve. That night, electricity saved her life. There is no electric grid operating in north Haiti, but because Bethesda had solar power, a child went home alive. The Bethesda emergency department opened in 2014 and has been growing ever since. As one of the only clinics in the area with 24-hour electricity, patients are regularly received in the middle of the night. Emergency care is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week—something that is difficult to find in Haiti. Even with this existing system, Bethesda must run its diesel generator 8 hours per day to accommodate peak loads and to recharge their batteries. Financial support is sought to install a larger solar system. With reliable electricity, emergencies can be treated at any hour and more lives saved at Bethesda when other clinics cannot.
The Bethesda Medical Center in Haiti continues to save lives and improve health outcomes for thousands of patients in dire need annually. Mass migration from the capital city due to gang activity is increasing the pressure on the fragile healthcare system in the north of Haiti and Bethesda is a continuing bright light providing care at his difficult time. Bethesda is a longstanding respected clinic in the small town of Vaudreuil, near Cap Haitien, Haiti. Begun as a mission outreach in 1961, Bethesda has matured into a comprehensive medical and dental clinical and education center that is directed and staffed entirely by competent Haitian physicians, nurses, dentists, physical therapists and auxiliary staff. Bethesda’s respected medical director, Dr. Rodney Baptiste, grew up in the local community and now leads a staff of over 60 individuals. Bethesda provides care during over 90,000 patient visits annually including over 7,000 dental and 5,000 physical therapy visits. Over 6,300 child vaccinations are provided annually. Over 1,400 people were seen by a physician on mobile medical clinics last year when the staff traveled to mountain villages where there is no health care. Bethesda operates a comprehensive HIV/AIDS clinic consisting of physicians, nurses, counsellors, social workers and healthcare assistants. This team supports patients through diagnosis and treatment with medication, counselling, support groups and financial assistance. It is literally a lifeline for patients who are living with HIV/AIDs. Patients with HIV in Haiti are often co-infected with tuberculosis. the Bethesda TB clinic tests hundreds of patients annually finding over 25% positive. Fortunately, both of these serious and infectious diseases are treatable with medications and therapies available at Bethesda.
A patient with HIV who found Bethesda: When a young mother of three — ages 9, 4, and 2 — arrived at Bethesda, she was extremely ill. For months, she had been unable to access her HIV medication, and her health had declined to the point where she could barely stand. The team welcomed her with compassion, listened to her story, assessed her condition, and immediately began treatment. She received life-saving HIV medication, nutritional support, counseling, and consistent follow-up care. Within just three months, her life was transformed. Her strength returned, her health improved, and hope was renewed. Today, this mom is strong enough to work again, care for her children, and continue her regular visits to Bethesda, where staff walk alongside her in her journey toward lasting health.
In addition to primary clinical care, Bethesda is helping to train the next generation of healthcare workers in Haiti. Under Dr. Rodney’s direction, Bethesda Medical Center receives students from all over the North of Haiti to do their clinicals as part of their degrees in nursing, X-Ray tech, lab tech, medicine, dentistry and physical therapy. Bethesda is a comprehensive clinic providing 16 services across 3 key areas – preventative, acute and ongoing care. All care is subsidized and patients pay approximately 50% of the actual cost. As a faith-based clinic, no one is turned away regardless of faith or ability to pay. Thanks to generous donors, Bethesda is able to provide care supported by a compassion fund to those who need it most and cannot afford to pay for their care.
Mom and baby find help at Bethesda: A young woman, only 17, came to Bethesda in critical condition. She was suffering from severe vomiting, diarrhea, and a high fever—symptoms that suggested typhoid fever, possibly from contaminated food or water. Sadly, she had been abandoned by her own family as she had given birth prematurely, just three months earlier. A stranger had directed her to Bethesda, knowing that she could find help there.
When she arrived at the Bethesda emergency department, she had her fragile baby in her arms and only 500 gourdes ($4US) to her name. The staff member stepped in to care for both mother and child. The baby was severely dehydrated and malnourished because she had not been getting any milk. Milk was immediately provided for the baby, who is now enrolled in our malnutrition program, ensuring she gets the nutrition she needs to grow.
Thanks to medical support, the young mother has recovered, and Bethesda staff continue to provide for her baby’s health and nutrition. Alongside medical and spiritual support, she is being encouraged to explore ways to return to school or start a small business so she can create a future for herself and her child.
Patients like these are a daily occurrence at the Bethesda Medical Center. Interested individuals are encouraged to learn more about Bethesda from the website: www.bethesdamedical.org or by writing to info@bethesdamedical.org. Bethesda continues to seek donations year-round from individuals and agencies to subsidize care for patients. Facilities and equipment continually need improvement. Bethesda is moving forward with a large Solar Phase II project to triple the current solar power capacity and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. This expansion will cost in excess of $250,000 and financial assistance is needed to bring this project to reality. Donors are encouraged to donate to the Bethesda Medical Center which is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization registered in the US with the name “Healthcare in Haiti Inc dba Bethesda Medical Center”. Bethesda accepts checks at their PO Box 90056, Indianapolis, IN 46290. In addition, gifts of appreciated stock, distributions from IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions and gifts from Donor Advised Funds are all encouraged. For information on donation options, please contact Bethesda through info@bethesdamedical.org. Oversight of the Bethesda Medical Center is through a volunteer international board of directors which allows a very high efficiency rate for donations. 96% of all contributions are used directly for the work of the Bethesda Medical Center in Haiti, the remainder provides for organizational overhead, mailing and promotional costs. The Bethesda form 990 is available upon request.
The patient stories relayed in this article are true accounts from actual patients who have found healing at Bethesda and have given permission to tell their stories. Patient names are not used.
“Today, Haiti is facing face one of the most difficult periods in its history. The ongoing social, political, and economic crisis has created enormous challenges for families, businesses, healthcare institutions, and communities throughout the country. Because of your generosity, the doors of Bethesda have never closed. For this, I want to say Thank you! Thank you for standing with us when circumstances were difficult. Thank you for believing in our mission. Thank you for helping us bring healing, hope, and dignity to the people of Haiti.” –Dr. Rodney Baptiste
Contact information
Mailing address: PO Box 90056, Indianapolis, IN 46290
Website: bethesdamedical.org
Social Media Links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HaitiBMC
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/haitibmc/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/haitibmc/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bethesdamedicalcenter9942
