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Hôpital Albert Schweitzer Haiti

Coordinates: 19°04′28″N 72°29′28″W / 19.074354°N 72.491103°W / 19.074354; -72.491103
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hôpital Albert Schweitzer
Map
Geography
LocationDeschapelles, Artibonite, Haiti
Coordinates19°04′28″N 72°29′28″W / 19.074354°N 72.491103°W / 19.074354; -72.491103
Organisation
FundingNon-profit hospital
TypeGeneral
Services
Beds120
History
Opened1956
Links
Websitewww.hashaiti.org
ListsHospitals in Haiti

The Hôpital Albert Schweitzer Haiti is a hospital in Deschapelles, Haiti. It was established in 1956 by Larry Mellon, who was inspired by Hôpital Albert Schweitzer and the life and philosophy of Albert Schweitzer.

History

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In 1947, Larry Mellon, inspired by Albert Schweitzer and his work in Africa at Hôpital Albert Schweitzer, went to medical school at Tulane University with the intention of following in Schweitzer's footsteps.[1] He went to Haiti in 1952 on a research trip as part of his medical studies, and during that visit decided to locate the clinic in the Artibonite Valley;[1] he was granted land that was formerly a banana plantation by then president of Haiti, Paul Magloire.[2]

He and his wife Gwen Grant Mellon opened a hospital they named Hôpital Albert Schweitzer in Deschapelles, Haiti in 1956.[1][2] When it opened, the facility had two operating rooms, a laboratory, X-ray facilities, a pharmacy, and had its own water system, electric power, machine and vehicle shops, laundry and food services.[2]

In 2010 and again in 2021, the hospital played an essential role in earthquake relief.[3]

Services

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By 1970, the facility had grown from 80 to 120 beds and provided annually about 60,000 outpatient visits, 3500 admissions and 2500 operations.[4][5]

By 2010, the facility in Haiti had expanded to include 12 health clinics that were staffed by Haitian volunteers; they offered and preventive and community education and focused on women's health and HIV treatment and prevention.[2] At the time the hospital performed about 2,000 surgical procedures each year and served about 60,000 people as outpatients, and about 100,000 people were treated each year at the satellite clinics.[2]

In 2015 it spent about $6 million on hospital operations and about $400,000 on the clinics.[6]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Nicholas, SW (2003). "Haiti's Hospital Albert Schweitzer: The Legacy of Larimer and Gwen Mellon". American Journal of Public Health. 93 (4): 527–29. doi:10.2105/ajph.93.4.527. PMC 1447782. PMID 12660189.
  2. ^ a b c d e Zwolak, Judith (June 12, 2010). "Hospital of Hope". LookTulane. Archived from the original on June 12, 2010.
  3. ^ https://www.pressreader.com/usa/pittsburgh-post-gazette/20210818/281505049294162. Retrieved 20 August 2021 – via PressReader. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. ^ Lepreau, FJ (September 1973). "Surgery in Haiti". Archives of Surgery. 107 (3): 483–6. doi:10.1001/archsurg.1973.01350210111030. PMID 4783045.
  5. ^ Baue, AE (September 1985). "Surgery in Haiti revisited. An opportunity for a general surgeon". Archives of Surgery. 120 (9): 997–1000. doi:10.1001/archsurg.1985.01390330009001. PMID 4026567.
  6. ^ "Charity Navigator Rating – Hôpital Albert Schweitzer Haiti". charitynavigator.org. Retrieved 2017-02-18.
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Further reading

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