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In January, BOL successfully completed a 3-year project focused on improving healthcare delivery in Haiti. Because of the political unrest and ongoing challenges, Haiti has become an increasingly difficult place to work. These obstacles affected the project timeline, scope and ability to get supplies, but Bridge of Life and our on-the-ground partner, NECH-CIECH, remained committed to serving and supporting community members of the Port Salut region.

Through this project, we screened 1,770 community members for hypertension, diabetes, and kidney disease. Additionally, we organized 293 health-focused activities that engaged over 5,800 attendees, promoting wellness and disease prevention community wide.

To support ongoing care to those that need it most, we connected 570 high-risk individuals with Community Health Workers who provided continuous education, home visits, and health monitoring. In less than a year, 20% of participants saw improved health outcomes, while 62% maintained stable conditions. Although we anticipated stronger outcomes, we must keep in mind the constant stress and uncertainty community members are experiencing every day.

This impact highlights the power of targeted health education and strong local healthcare partnerships in driving meaningful community health improvements, even in resource-limited settings. Thank you to NECH-CIECH for persevering and thank you to the Cencora Impact Foundation for ensuring that this program was completed.

Please read Mrs. Louis’ story below highlighting her involvement in this program!

A New Lease on Life

At 62 years old, Mrs. Louis, originally from Port Salut, is married and the mother of three children.

Out of curiosity, she accepted a friend’s invitation to attend a yoga club organized by a community health worker (CHW) associated with NECH-CIEH. Shortly after, Mrs. Louis formally joined the program. She attended sessions at least twice a week and quickly became part of the program.

Diabetic and hypertensive, Mrs. Louis’ fragile health had put an end to her professional activities as a merchant. For her, undertaking a physical exercise program marked a turning point in her life. Previously unable to walk, she can now do so with ease. She struggled to sit due to pain, but now she can do so effortlessly. Even walking uphill once seemed impossible, but today she can do it without getting short of breath.

“I can stand on my own two feet. I can do everything with my body thanks to the exercises,” she says enthusiastically.

Mrs. Louis has also observed the benefits of exercise combined with medical care among other participants in the program, noting that the combination of medication and exercise has brought them relief and, like her, has allowed them to return to their daily activities. Prior to participation in the program, they also struggled with mobility or sitting for long periods of time. Some even saw their blood sugar levels decrease thanks to live-saving medication.

Mrs. Louis strongly hopes the activities will continue, as many participants cannot afford to access medical treatment due to financial constraints. For them, this program plays a vital role in bridging the gap between their homes and the hospital. It helps them measure and control their blood pressure and blood sugar levels and better manage their illnesses. Inspired by her progress so far, Mrs. Louis has even started searching for exercise videos on YouTube to keep improving her health.

Although she now feels capable of resuming her professional activities, her children, concerned about her health, prefer that she stay at home. She respects their decision.

When asked about the role of nurses in the program, she responds with pride: “My daughter was a nurse in Haiti. Today, she is in Canada and is pursuing studies to practice in that country.”