More than just a Clinic
Each community with hospitals is not able to respond to and resolve the health problems of its population. The hospital or clinic is only one part of the package; the community itself plays a major role. Thus, the daily life of each family is of more importance than their coming to see us at the clinic. OSAPO has developed a health program based more on the preventive than the curative aspect, focusing on education, food security, nutrition, potable water, sanitation, and empowerment. If we hope to improve the quality of health of the population through preventative measures, the solution is significantly more far-reaching than a simple visit to the doctor and taking medicine.
OSAPO has focused on five sectors to wage its struggle against poverty in the country:
- Education
- Health Care
- WASH (water, sanitation, hygiene)
- Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition
- Micro-credit and Other Empowerment Initiatives
Education
If a patient is seen in a clinic and diagnosed with diabetes (which is very common now in Haiti), the medication that is provided to the patient will only cover 25-30% of the treatment – the other 75% is based on the social economic status of the individual and his or her level of education. If this patient does not know when to eat, what to eat, or how to buy it, the medication is essentially useless. That is why the problem is not going to be solved in a hospital or clinic, but in the community where people live their everyday lives.
Healthcare
Water, Sanitation, Hygiene; aka "WASH Program"
The water is supplied through the Water Well to Rousseau’s Public Sanitation is controlled by the building of Latrines through OSAPO’s teachings.
Hygeine is taught through the various classes offered by OSAPO
Agriculture, Food Security, Nutrition
Micro-credit and Other Empowerment Initiatives
In 2009, OSAPO introduced a microcredit program with four main objectives for its rural households:
- Improve family equilibrium by increasing women’s autonomy
- Increase the purchasing power of women
- Aid small family businesses
- Provide financial tools to ensure monitoring of small family businesses
