A new hospital for needy Haitians

(Vatican Rado) A nation in desperate need of medical care is about to have a new hospital opened at the end of this week. St. Luke Foundation for Haiti will officially open their new facility, St. Luke’s Hospital, which will be used to help and care for those in need in Haiti.

Haiti has been devastated from recent natural disasters n the past 10 years, especially Hurricane Matthew which occurred last October. After the 2010 earthquake, many Haitians were living in makeshift houses which were destroyed during the hurricane. Over 800 people were killed during the Category 5 storm, and many people become ill because they drank flooding water that mixed with sewage.

The organization was founded by Father Rick Frechette, CP. Fr. Frechette is also a doctor, and his passion for working with children started while he was involved with Our Little Brothers and Sisters, a mission that serves children in need in Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean.

In a press release about the opening of the hospital, Fr. Frechette said, “Direct encounters between Jesus and those struggling with devastating illness, grace many pages of the gospels stories. Believers over twenty centuries have had the privilege, as we do today, of continuing the healing ministry of Jesus.”

The 80 bed hospital contains a surgery center, ER, ICU, specialty wards, and training center. This facility will be led by locals, whose commitment to the community makes a difference in the lives of those in need.

Founded in 2000 by a group of Haitian leaders along with Fr. Frechette, Foundation St. Luc was named in honor of St. Luke the evangelist, who was also a physician. The U.S. counterpart, St. Luke Foundation for Haiti, was officially added ten years later. Fr Frechette also leads Nos Petits Freres et Soeurs Haiti, which started 30 years ago.