“The people of Haiti have a strength.” Those are the words of Patricia Kinser who is on faculty with Bon Secours Memorial College of Nursing one day after the devastating earthquake. Patricia would know about that strength, since 2000 the College of Nursing began making medical mission trips to Haiti.

“They know how to laugh and enjoy themselves,” Kinser continues, “but this is a country with a minimal infrastructure. The amount of damage is unfathomable.”

With a per capita average income of about $2.00 per day, Haiti is one of the poorest countries in the Americas. It is part of what makes the Bon Secours mission in Haiti so important. The College of Nursing, in conjunction with the Bon Secours Health System has been providing health care, health education and funding.

In August 2009, leaders from the Mission Services team of Bon Secours made their own trip to Haiti. The intent was to better understand the needs and to see first hand the impact of financial support from Bon Secours. The team visited the Central Plateau region, 60 miles north-east of Port-Au-Prince.

According to Beth Merchent, Administrative Director of Mission Services and member of the 2009 trip, “it is about being partners in health with the Haitian people.” Bon Secours has helped fund orthopedic programs, midwifery services, a  dental clinic and support for local physicians.

Bon Secours continues to be committed to the people of Haiti. “It’s showing love and being open. It’s what we get out of it and it’s what means the most to [the Haitian people],” says Kinser.

As outlined in the announcement below, Bon Secours has announced immediate financial support. The College of Nursing also has plans for an aid mission in February. The Memorial College of Nursing will be holding a silent and live auction fund raiser to benefit the trip on February 5, 2009. You can view learn more about their auction event here.

Pictures from both the Mission Services trip and previous Memorial College of Nursing missions can be found on our Flickr page.

What follows is a public announcement from Bon Secours Virginia Health Sytem:

As part of its Global Ministries, Bon Secours Health System, Inc. (BSHSI) is committed to helping people in need wherever they may be in the struggle to create a more humane world. Yesterday’s earthquake striking Haiti was devastating. As you have seen on the news, much of the city of Port au Prince was demolished including the National Palace, National Cathedral, schools and government buildings. Several hundred thousand people are feared dead, many Doctors Without Borders staff are missing, the prison has collapsed, inmates escaped, outcome of the hospital unknown, and many people trapped in collapsed U.N. headquarters, plus much more.

• BSHSI is working in conjunction with Catholic Relief Services (CRS), the Catholic Medical Mission Board (CMMB), and other Catholic health systems on a plan of action for providing relief support.  This plan will address the relief needs on two levels:  Short Term and Long Term.  On the short term basis, cash is what is needed.   BSHSI will immediately send $50,000 to CRS and CMMB to begin relief efforts.  All employee donations up to a total of $100,000 to the BSMF for the Haiti Relief Fund will be matched by BSHSI.
• Bon Secours Richmond Health System will match financial contributions by staff and volunteers up to a total of $50,000 to the Bon Secours Memorial College of Nursing’s Haiti Outreach Program and the Salva Vida program which was co-founded by Dr. Fred McGlynn and has extensive experience in Haiti.  Please contact the Bon Secours Richmond Foundation at (804) 287-7700 to make a donation.
• Health professionals (especially those fluent in French and/or Creole) who are interested in volunteering their time should contact Julie Bondy, Manager of Community Volunteers, at julie_bondy@bshsi.org.