While Wound Care Haiti Founder, Dr. Patrick DeHeer was working on a clubfoot program for CURE International he discovered several diabetic foot wounds and infections that consequently led to amputation. Due to this, he decided to establish wound care centers in Haiti to help treat and provide proper wound care.

Since then, he had been continuously visiting the country along with other volunteering surgeons and podiatrists to conduct seminars and hands-on workshops for the Haitian medical community.

Having been to Haiti numerous times, Dr. DeHeer has developed a deep affinity for the country and its people. He feels very comfortable in the country, effectively interacting with various people and patients.

His extensive training in foot surgery and continuous practice in Podiatry, along with his sincere kinship and concern for Haitians, motivate him to pursue conducting wound care programs through Wound Care Haiti, Incorporated.

 According to the Country Summary Table of the International Diabetes Federation (2009) Diabetes Atlas, the national prevalence rate of diabetes in Haiti is 5.9 percent, equivalent to 5,303,100 individuals. Using either the national prevalence rate, which is the percentage of each country’s population with diabetes, or the comparative prevalence rate, where in differences of age between countries and regions are removed, Haiti stands above the worldwide total. This would mean that the burden of diabetes in the country is greater than the whole world.

Utilizing Haiti’s diabetes comparative prevalence of 7.2 percent and the country’s approximate population that is nine million, the estimated number of Haitians with diabetes is 630,000. Conforming to the Rule of 15-15, there would be 94,500 Haitians with diabetes who would develop some type of foot ulcer and 14,175 would lead to limb amputation.The Rule of 15-15 states that 15 percent of the total number of individuals with diabetes would develop some type of foot ulcer and 15 percent of these foot ulcer cases would lead to a form of limb amputation.

Aside from these, there is also a five-year survival rate of 50 percent after an amputation surgery. Therefore, from the 14,175 individuals who have undergone some form of limb amputation, about 7,087 surgeries would eventually lead to death after five years. These numbers are indeed tragic and devastating.

On the other hand, diabetic foot ulcers are not the only types of wounds that plague Haiti. In addition to the countrywide prevalence of diabetes and other wound types in Haiti, there are other contributing factors that make wound cases and amputation rates more distressing and challenging. These include the limited vascular surgery and preventive foot care education and treatment in Haiti. The few numbers of competent and skillful medical personnel, as well as insufficient medical supply also contributes to the continuously increasing amputation rates and untreated wound cases in Haiti.

 Most medical volunteers and missionaries who have been to Haiti would recognize the poorly equipped hospitals in the country where there is little or no vascular surgery. These types of surgery could not be performed in Haiti due to its limited medical equipment and supplies.

Aside from vascular surgeries, preventive foot care and treatment are also lacking, if not nonexistent, in Haiti. Evidently, antibiotics, dressings, wound care products, and offloading devices are very limited and basic in the country. These only further the medical and health issues in Haiti and contribute to the rapid increase of untreated wound cases, amputation rates, and, consequently, mortality rates.

In addition, Haitians walk significantly more than other nationalities; thus, making them more vulnerable to acquire wounds. This situation is due to their inability to afford vehicles and the undeveloped roads in Haiti. Most roads even have potholes, dismissing the opportunity to accommodate vehicles. Hence, Haitians often walk long distances as their primary form of transportation. Some even trudge up hills to their homes. These, as well as the poor shoe gear available in the country, greatly affect Haitians’ health making them more vulnerable to foot and leg wounds.

Even before the 2010 earthquake, Haiti’s healthcare system is already appalling and grim. In fact, at the time of strong civil strife, hospitals were the target of most violence, hindering both patients and medical personnel to acquire and deliver appropriate medical services The country’s political instability, at the time, further resulted to the increase of emergency medical cases due to violence and difficulties in accessing several areas to deliver medical supplies on time.

Aside from these, nearly two-thirds of the Haiti population does not have access to medicine and health services, particularly those living in rural areas and the financially incompetent. In addition, the poorly sanitized and ill equipped health centers and hospitals in Haiti help in spreading infection than accelerating treatment. According to the 2005 World Health Report, the Haitian government spends only two dollars per capita on health each year.

It is truly overwhelming to view Haiti’s dying healthcare system. This countrywide crisis is growing direr and weaker as earthquakes, storms, and hurricanes transpire in Haiti. With its current state, it would not be able to fairly handle future medical challenges without aid from agencies and medical groups.