The Foundation
of Haitian Rehabilitation (FONHARE) is a grassroots Haitian organization
providing rehabilitation services to the citizens of Ouanaminthe. It is the
only organization providing rehab services in the northeast of Haiti to 13
cities with almost 500,000 citizens. Ivens Louius, the founder and
director, is a physical therapist and an occupational therapist. FONHARE currently
is providing services in a medical clinic owned and run by Louius's brother, who is a physician. A foundation has
been laid for a large onsite rehabilitation clinic adjacent to the medical
clinic. There is a genuine need for volunteers to be part of establishing
rehabilitation and physical therapy as a specialized service in a country
that had virtually none before the 2010 earthquake. For more information about
volunteer opportunities, as well as opportunities to provide financial support,
visit FONHARE at www.fonhare.org.
It would be great if APTA could offer continuing education that would assist PT's in competency for volunteering in places needing services. As an outpatient orthopedic physical therapist, looking at partial retirement, I would love to volunteer but not certain I have the skills to do so.
Posted by Jodi Petrinovich
on 10/26/2012 2:04 PM
I've been to Haiti twice via a church group (Cap Haitian area) and would like more info. on this organization. Thanks....
Posted by Dawn M. Wilmes
on 10/26/2012 2:36 PM
I went to Haiti 2 years ago and initiated a PT clinic n Pignon, Haiti. Caleb Lucian is the contact who lives in Pignon and runs Camp de la Grace. His wife is from Little Rock Arkansas area and they have been sponsored through a church group from Arkansas as well. I went through a Covenent Church Group out of Moose Lake, MN that has been going there for the past 10 years. I just heard on Facebook this week that the PT rehab clinic is going strong. Jan Swanson PT ajswanson@email.com
Posted by Janice Swanson -> @JT_>
on 10/26/2012 10:28 PM
I am familiar with Ivens and FONHARE and it is worthy of your support! Jodi, patient needs span the gamut and some comfort with neuro conditions would probably be helpful, though there are certainly ortho needs as well. Dawn, contact Ivens through his website and he'll gladly give you more specifics! Currently there is a big need for more space to work in. When I visited in May, he was preparing to move to his brother's new medical clinic where he would have a small room, that will become a hallway when his new space is built (that gives you the idea of how small it is.) Feel free to contact me as well, if you'd like! My website is www.cathydonahoe.net
Posted by Cathy Donahoe
on 10/26/2012 10:29 PM