Haiti had no national rehabilitation plan or facilities for spinal cord injuries prior to the 2010 earthquake. In the aftermath, there were challenges providing acute care, rehabilitation, supplies and expertise for SCI patients. However, critical successes included establishing early SCI treatment sites, training local providers, creating a collaborative network called the Haiti SCI Working Group, and developing a patient registry. Ongoing opportunities include formalizing SCI rehabilitation programs and facilities, as well as continuing education, but challenges remain around human resources, community reintegration, funding, and building surgical and acute care capacity.

1. SCI Rehabilitation in Post Earthquake HaitiEarly Responses, Critical Successes, and Longer Term Challenges Haiti SCI Working Group International Spinal Cord Society Disaster Committee

2. Haiti January 11, 2010 No national data on SCI/disability No national rehabilitation plan No inpatient SCI facilities or surgical capacity for spinal cord injuries Limited inpatient rehabilitation capacity – MSF, HAS Outpatient rehabilitation provided by non-government aid organizations

5. Rapid Assessment

6. Patterns of Injury

9. Transportation issues

10. Coordination system - referrals

11. Supplies – orthoses, hardware, fluroscopy, seating, catheters, medications….

13. Urgent and Emergent Development of acute and longer term rehabilitation plan

15. “Emergent” training of local care providers

16. Identification and support of local experts

17. Collaborative network “Haiti SCI Working Group”

19. “Emergent” training of local care providers

20. Identification and support of local experts

21. Collaborative network “Haiti SCI Working Group”

23. “Emergent” training of local care providers

24. Identification and support of local experts

25. Collaborative network “Haiti SCI Working Group”

27. “Emergent” training of local care providers

28. Identification and support of local experts

29. Collaborative network “Haiti SCI Working Group”

31. “Emergent” training of local care providers

32. Identification and support of local experts

33. Collaborative network “Haiti SCI Working Group”

35. “Emergent” training of local care providers

36. Identification and support of local experts

37. Collaborative network “Haiti SCI Working Group”

39. Ongoing education and training opportunities

40. Formal SCI rehabilitation inpatient and outpatient facilities and programs

42. Ongoing education and training opportunities

43. Formal SCI rehabilitation inpatient and outpatient facilities and programs

45. Ongoing education and training opportunities

46. Formal SCI rehabilitation inpatient and outpatient facilities and programs

48. Ongoing education and training opportunities

49. Formal SCI rehabilitation inpatient and outpatient facilities and programs