Nearly one year after the catastrophic earthquake that struck Haiti, aid organizations and donors find progress continuously slow, if at all.  The complexity of Haiti’s problems has humbled the international aid apparatus and sobered expectations for near-term progress. Having experienced first-hand Haiti’s slow road to recovery, C2C is more convinced today than ever that we must re-focus the world’s attention on our neighbor’s struggles. As we approach the disaster’s anniversary, rather than make excuses for our fatigue, it is the responsibility of those in the aid community to recommit to hope for Haiti and the possibility for improvement.

In Port-au-Prince, we’re working hand-in-hand with local institutions to provide health care to vulnerable women. We’re providing a clinical platform that has treated over 1,000 women in just several months, and we’re on track to provide treatment to over 12,000 additional patients in 2011.

And while our immediate priorities focus on Haiti, the C2C model is poised to scale to dozens of communities in multiple countries. Above all, the C2C clinical model is agile: a modular clinical facility, paired with robust capacity-building support, training for clinicians, and essential health education for patients. This is a model that works in Port-au-Prince and can work in other under-resourced areas of the world.

As an organization, we owe our successes to all those who have believed in and invested in this idea. C2C “champions” have brought their energy and creativity to bear on our growth. There are so many ways that you can continue to provide your invaluable support to C2C. Let’s begin 2011 with an optimistic and supportive eye towards Haiti.

Uncertainty around the presidential election and the pace of reconstruction is valid reason for concern. But we’re focusing our efforts on our patients and on our support for the Haitian clinicians who provide them with high-quality care.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Haitian people on this anniversary; and, for C2C, we will continue our work in Haiti by mobilizing additional clinic units in the months ahead. Please stay tuned to our website and blog – we’re keeping our content dynamic and it is the best source of news on our deployment of more C2C clinics.

Warmly,

Liz