When the earthquake struck Haiti in January, five-year-old Simmorville Keture was buried underneath her home. She survived, but her right leg had to be amputated.
One among the many wounded, she lay helpless in bed for a month until therapists from Israel’s Alyn hospital arrived with the IsraAID relief team. In a hospital in Haiti, where medical staff focused mainly on life-saving surgeries, no one has thought of dealing with the rehabilitation of these children. Within minutes after being provided with crutches, treated and taught to stand, however, Simmorville began to walk, astonishing the local hospital staff.
IsraAID relief and rehabilitation programs in Haiti have been expanded from emergency medical aid to include post trauma, establishment of child-friendly spaces programs and community centers through its member group Tevel Be'Tzedek.
The unique program currently operated by the Israeli team brings a bright ray of light to survivors and therapists alike.
The Israeli team in addition to six post-trauma experts and social workers includes two Israeli therapists from the Alyn Hospital who during the past 15 days have been treating 15 children with severe injuries and amputations at the Sacred Heart Hospital Center in Port au Prince.
IsraAID missions to Haiti are supported and funded by the American Jewish Committee, UJA Federation of Greater Toronto, B'nai B'rith International, Jewish Federation of the Metropolitan of Chicago, the Jewish Federation of Los Angeles, Jewish Community Federation of Cleveland, Jewish Federation of St. Louis, Jewish Federation of San Francisco, UJA – Federation of New York and the Greater Miami Jewish Federation.