Social Issue

In recent years, Haiti has been shaken by various calamities that have paralyzed the subsistence economy of Haitian families, who rely on informal work to survive. The country’s security crisis has led to job losses, displacement, and increased poverty.

As a result, Haiti is experiencing the worst food crisis of the last decade, with 4.9 million Haitians suffering from hunger and food insecurity.

Our Response

St. Damien Hospital, the only facility in Haiti with a specialized pediatric malnutrition unit, provides 24/7 care for critically ill children. Severe malnutrition is the third leading cause of admission to this hospital, which is managed by Nos Petits Frères et Sœurs, the local partner of Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos in Haiti.

Since 2007, Netri Foundation has supported this program, which combats the high rate of child malnutrition in Port-au-Prince, where beneficiaries from the poorest neighborhoods suffer from the cycle of intergenerational poverty.

Treatment typically lasts an average of four weeks of hospitalization followed by four weeks of outpatient care, though severe cases can extend up to two or three months.

Expected Social Impact

Each year, this collaboration enables the treatment and recovery of hundreds of Haitian babies and children affected by malnutrition. However, Haiti’s security crisis has impacted St. Damien Hospital’s performance and its nutritional recovery unit, as it is located in a “red zone” caught in crossfire between armed groups. Armed gangs in Port-au-Prince have displaced and isolated families, limiting their visits to the hospital for fear of kidnappings or assaults. This situation can worsen the health of children suffering from food insecurity and malnutrition. The 2024 budget for St. Damien Hospital’s malnutrition unit was €100,000, with Netri’s contribution of €40,000 covering 40% of the program.

For nearly two decades, Netri has been working to improve the health of vulnerable Haitian children.