American Red Cross Supports Construction of the Mirebalais National Teaching Hospital in Haiti

$5.5 million committed to facility built by Partners in Health and Haitian Ministry

WASHINGTON, Jan. 10, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Red Cross has committed $5.5 million to support construction and initial operating costs of Mirebalais National Teaching Hospital, a facility built by Partners In Health in collaboration with Haiti's Ministry of Public Health and Population.

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Mirebalais, located 30 miles north of Port-au-Prince, had limited medical care prior to the earthquake and now will have a state of the art national public referral and teaching hospital to serve the Haitians living in surrounding communities. When it opens its doors later this year, the 180,000-square foot, 320-bed hospital will offer three wards for women's care, 20 outpatient consultation rooms, and six operating rooms.  The new hospital will serve an estimated 500 patients per day.

"Mirebalais hospital is the culmination of a dream dating back a quarter century, and underlines our commitment to the country and people of Haiti, which is stronger than ever after the earthquake." said Dr. Paul Farmer, PIH co-founder.

At a time when Haiti desperately needs skilled professionals, Mirebalais National Teaching Hospital will also provide high-quality education for the next generation of Haitian nurses, medical students, and resident physicians.

In addition to disabling most medical facilities in Port-au-Prince, the earthquake destroyed the country's only nursing school – killing hundreds of nursing students and instructors – and crippled the only public teaching hospital. When complete, Mirebalais Hospital will be a significant training center ensuring improved medical care in Haiti for years to come.

"Through the Mirebalais Hospital and our partners at PIH, not only are we able to support much needed medical care to the immediate community, but we are also meeting our Red Cross organizational goals of creating sustainable development in Haiti by ensuring medical professionals have access to training and educational opportunities," said David Meltzer, Senior Vice President, International Services, American Red Cross.

The support for Mirebalais Hospital is part of a series of American Red Cross health initiatives in Haiti. The American Red Cross has provided over $28 million in funding to partner organizations focusing on health care in the two years since the earthquake to help sustain existing hospitals and programs, provide funding for construction of new facilities, and respond to health emergencies such as the cholera outbreak.

About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation's blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.

SOURCE American Red Cross