Swiss Pediatric Program

Pediatrics

With 86 beds, the pediatric ward is by far the largest department at HAS and the only clinic with a department for sick newborns, malnourished children and pediatric surgery in the Artibonite Valley. Thanks to a completed start-up grant from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the TEAMCO Foundation Switzerland and the Medicor Foundation, SPHASH has been financing and supporting the operation of the children’s clinic and outpatient clinic since 2010.

Our decision to continue long-term funding for pediatrics through the sustainable Swiss Pediatric Program was driven by our commitment to maintaining a well-functioning healthcare system – a cornerstone of a strong society. SPHASH covers the entire operating costs of the pediatric ward, including the outpatient clinic, except for the salary of one pediatrician, which is financed by Suisse-Santé-Haiti. The annual budget is currently USD 500,000, which we can only afford thanks to our partners.

Nearly 42% of Haiti’s population is under the age of 20 (compared to 20% in Switzerland, source: Länderinfo). The goal is to ensure medical care for children up to the age of 15 of the approximately 450,000 residents in the Artibonite Valley.

In 2024, a total of 59,558 patients were treated at HAS. Of these, children accounted for 15,904 outpatient visits and 3,911 inpatient treatments – nearly one third of all cases.