Canadian Friends of Hôpital Albert Schweitzer Haiti

03/31/2026

Hello dear supporters: Hopital Albert Schweitzer - Haiti will celebrate its 70th birthday this June which is a remarkable accomplishment in light of the many upheavals in Haiti that have occurred since its opening. The number of people that have received care in one form or another is countless and it remains a beacon of hope to this day.

The Canadian Friends of HAS - Haiti are pleased to be able to continue supporting their efforts in Maternal/Child health care which has been possible due to your many contributions over the years. Our latest fund raising effort is a benefit performance being put on by the Drury Lane Theater (cabaret style) on New Street in Burlington, on Thursday May 14th. It is their spring show which is "Nice Work If You Can Get It," a Gershwin musical. Please plan to join us. To purchase tickets please see the information listed on the flyer.

Hope to see you there for this fun and entertaining evening.

03/05/2026

Thanks to everyone who joined us for our Soupfest and Trivia night and to all the folks who helped to make it a success.

The guests enjoyed ten different delicious soups prepared by a variety of great chefs before tackling the Trivia questions. The “Hot Sixers” (my high school friends and another) were the winning team…..no there was no collusion 😉😆.

The guests enjoyed ten different delicious soups prepared by a variety of great chefs before tackling the Trivia questions. The “Hot Sixers” (my high school friends and another) were the winning team…..no there was no collusion 😉😆.

01/26/2026

Come join us for an evening of fun and fundraising. Sample some delicious soups and test your trivia skills. Can’t fill a table of 4-6….come along anyway, we’ll find a place for you. A great opportunity to meet new people. Please see the poster for ticket information.

12/29/2025

Dear Friends: As the year draws quickly to a close we, at Canadian Friends of Hôpital Albert Schweitzer, would like to take this moment to thank you for your generosity in helping us continue our Mission to provide resources for the Maternal /Child Health programs at Hôpital Albert Schweitzer. Without you we could not do so!
Your donation is not just a number; it’s a symbol of hope, kindness and love in action.
Wishing you a joyful and prosperous New Year! May it bless you with an abundance of joyful moments, fulfilling experiences, and heartfelt connections. Let every day remind you of life’s beauty and the endless opportunities to create happiness for yourself and others.”

https://www.cfhas.ca/

UPCOMING EVENTS: Mark your Calendars.
Trivia Night at Delta United Church. Saturday February 28th at 6:00 PM – more details to follow.
Its Nice Work If You Can Get It – a Gershwin Musical at the Dury Lane Theater in New Street in Burlington. Benefit Performance for CFHAS on Thursday May 14th. – more details to follow.

11/10/2025

TREK2HAS5 TOE TO “HEAL” FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN
Greetings:
The team at CFHAS is happy to report that thirty one people
completed the TREK2HAS on October 31st. With the collective km’s,
together we covered the 3,600 km’s between Hamilton, ON and
Descahpelles, Haiti where HAS is located. Participants trekked in
foreign lands from Portugal to Peru, along beaches and trails
enjoying many beautiful scenes as they trekked along.
To the trekkers that made their own personal donation and to all
those who sponsored them we send out a HUGE thank you. Thanks
to everyone’s generosity we more than doubled our goal of raising
$5,000 for the Child and Maternal programs at the hospital. What
an amazing achievement! We hope you will join us again next
October.
As part of the CFHAS Spring Appeal a benefit performance will be
held at the Dury Lane Theatre on New St. in Burlington featuring the
Gershwin musical “Nice Work If You Can Get It” Mark your
calendars for Thurs. May 14, 2026 to join us. Further details will
come in the new year.
The recent hurricane in Haiti did not affect the hospital other than
getting more rain than usual. The steadfast team continues to keep
up with proving the much-needed care in spite of the ever increasing
challenges. Your donations are more appreciated than ever!
May you continue to enjoy this lovely fall season that we have been
having and all the best for the upcoming holiday season.

https://www.cfhas.ca/

09/10/2025

Although times remain difficult in Haiti, Hôpital Albert Schweitzer carries on providing life saving care to the ever-increasing population arriving at its doors. While our annual Haiti Happening and Golf Tournament fund raisers are no longer possible, our fund-raising efforts and the contributions we receive, for the Maternal and Child Health Care Programs, are as important as ever. Read on to learn how you can partner with us and for updated news of the Hospital.
TREK2 HAS
TOE to “HEAL” TREK2HAS
The team at Canadian Friend of HAS invites you to join them throughout the month of October in putting your toes to “heal” as they put one foot in front of the other to collectively cover the 3,600 km distance from Hamilton to Deschapelle. Our goal is to raise $5,000 for the ongoing healing care and support for the women and children seeking health care at the hospital or community centers.
To register for your participation please see instructions at the end of the newsletter.
HAS UPDATE
Maternal and pediatric health is at the cornerstone of HAS’s mission. On May 5 the hospital hosted an intimate gathering to celebrate International Midwives Day. The dedicated midwives at HAS make it possible for it to safely facilitate hundreds of births each year, and the day was an opportunity to show the midwives just how deeply they are valued and appreciated.
Jean Marc DeMatteis the CEO of HAS recently shared the following news:
Today, I write to share both a sobering reality and a story of resilience unfolding in the Lower Artibonite region of Haiti. Violence in our area has escalated dramatically since spring, with horrific gang attacks on four towns, all within miles of Hôpital Albert Schweitzer. Well over 100,000 people have been forced to flee their homes in Mirebalais, Petite Rivière Lachapelle, Desarmes, many crossing the dangerous Artibonite River in search of safety. They are turning to HAS for help.
HAS shined like a beacon in responding to the crisis. To reach those unable to travel, our mobile health teams were immediately deployed to communities and camps and homes hosting displaced people, bringing health services to areas of greatest need. Through these mobile health clinics, we have already seen and treated thousands of patients. At our hospital, patient numbers have surged well beyond our usual 200-bed capacity, with an average of 240 inpatients per day.
In the face of this crisis, we reached out to our long-time partners at World Central Kitchen for help. Thanks to their support, desperately needed food relief efforts are underway. Our teams have been working tirelessly to provide displaced families with hot, nourishing meals, with 19 community kitchens set up to prepare and serve hot meals every day.
Yesterday, we reached an incredible milestone - 1 million meals served since May 22nd, all thanks to the support of WCK! This is an essential lifeline and boost of hope for those who would otherwise go hungry
These efforts have not only fed the hungry but also supported our local economy by hiring community cooks and purchasing ingredients from local farmers and vendors. Everday we see profound gratitude from families, community leaders, and children ---many of whom are receiving their only meal of the day through this initiative.
While we are implementing this massive emergency feeding program, our team is maintaining day to day operations at the hospital as well as in our community health division. Patient numbers remain higher than average for inpatient and outpatient services. But our heroic team continues to serve our patients and to keep everything up and running.
FUTURE EVENT
Mark your calendar for Thursday May 14, 2026. Drury Lane Theater in Burlington will hold a Benefit performance for CFHAS at 8 pm of The Gershwin music –“ Nice Work If You Can Get It.” Further details to come in the new year.
JOINING US FOR THE TREK2HAS HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO DO:
We begin October 1 and will keep on going until October 31, 2023. Help us reach our goal of raising $5,000.00 by participating, donating and/or fund raising in support of the Maternal and Child Healthcare Programs. Through your participation and generosity can continue providing care and other essential services for the many women and children needing its help.
• Sign up – email Debbie at: [email protected] to register and provide the number of km you plan to cover over the month
• Walk , run , cycle , roller blade , and/or swim as you please • Invite the folks you know to travel along with us. It’s a fun way to get your daily exercise and enjoy the great outdoors. • Solicit donations/sponsors and/or make a personal donation.
HOW TO DONATE
Donations can be made online at www.cfhas.ca or by mailing a cheque payable to Canadian Friends of HAS to 9 Appalachian Trail, Hamilton, ON L9B 2X8. If your sponsors are donating online, please instruct them to click the “add special instructions to the seller” link and indicate they are sponsoring you. Donations can also be made through Canada Helps.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
JOIN US, LETS’S GO
• Start your journey on Oct 1st
• Send in a photo of you and/or your crew trekking to [email protected] so that we can share it on our website and page. Post your activity to your social media as well. Share a story as well.
• Weekly updates will be sent to you with our progress to date and any photos sent in will be shared with you.

06/04/2025

Dear Friends:

HAS continues to face one challenge after another. In recent weeks they have assisted many people in the Artibonite Valley who have fled due to gang activity. They have expanded their capacity to 240 beds (from 200) to accommodate those in need of hospital treatment. The doctors, nurses and support staff are ever diligent in doing whatever is necessary to keep the services going.

We are pleased to share with you the 2024 Annual Impact Report from HAS. Your contributions have helped them to achieve these milestones. The support we receive from you is ever needed to help them in their work caring for the Mothers and Children.

Our Spring Appeal is coming to a close but it is not too late to send in a donation. The need is as great as ever to help keep the care of the Mothers and Children ongoing. You may donate at our Website - cfhas.ca OR Canada Helps OR via cheque to Cdn. Friends of HAS-Haiti and sent to: 9 Appalachian Trail, Hamilton, ON L9B 2X8.

Thank you for your care and concern. Have a wonderful summer !

04/29/2025

Hello friends: Below is the latest news from Jn Marc DeMatteis at HAS. It demonstrates yet again the commitment of the staff and how HAS reaches out to help others in need. Your contributions to CFHAS count more than ever! Thank you for your donations, care and concern for the people of the Artibonite Valley and beyond.

Dear Friends,

Our hearts are with our colleagues at Hôpital Universitaire de Mirebalais as they have been forced to suspend operations as armed gangs set fire to buildings, attacked police stations, released prisoners, and forced families to flee their homes.

Read more about the attack in the Miami Herald article HERE. https://hashaiti.org/stories/blog/haiti-health-crisis-erupts/?bbeml=tp-Quw7sUNg6Ua1XOE0mrPXxw.jlHgAwLnQxkWgXmCFOrY8HA.rXh3L4GBMSEuXu1HhKRDTTQ.lsf__OLCxoU-M8s6OFHfexA

HAS is doing everything in our power to stand with our partners and respond to crisis after crisis. We mobilized immediately, receiving busloads of patients and staff evacuated from Mirebalais. We pushed far beyond our 200-bed capacity, transforming our Cholera Treatment Center into a temporary refuge for those fleeing violence, and helped coordinate patient transfers to other safe facilities. We provided housing and warm meals for the heroic doctors and nurses who were forced to flee in the middle of the night. These efforts underscore who we are: a hospital that rises to meet every challenge, no matter the cost, and stands with our friends.

The painful decision by Partners In Health/ Zanmi Lasanté to suspend operations at Hôpital Universitaire de Mirebalais is a devastating development for the thousands of patients who depend on its services and the dedicated staff who work there.

HUM evacuees arriving at HAS campus
At Hôpital Albert Schweitzer (HAS), our mission has always been clear: to serve the people of Haiti with compassion, resilience, and unwavering care; especially in moments of uncertainty.

Right now, that mission is facing one of its greatest tests.

Hallways at HAS overflowing with patients
HAS continues to step up to stand with our partners and patients.

But we cannot do it alone.

The closure of Hôpital Universitaire de Mirebalais is a sobering reminder of the fragility of Haiti’s healthcare infrastructure—and a rallying cry for urgent action. We need your help more than ever. With your support, we can continue to provide lifesaving care for displaced families, maintain critical services amid escalating instability, and protect the dignity and health of every person who turns to HAS in their time of need.

Together, we can be a lifeline.

Thank you for standing with us in solidarity and hope.

Sincerely,

Jean Marc de Matteis
CEO

04/23/2025

To everyone who has thus far contributed to our April Spring Appeal we say a BIG thank you! For anyone else still wishing to contribute to support the Maternal Child Healthcare Programs at Hôpital Albert Schweitzer (HAS) it is not too late. Your donation is welcome at any time.

For those of you who may not yet have seen the latest newsletter please read on for a link to hear a message from the COO, Jessica Laguerre; updated information about the hospital and a short success story.

Message from Jessica Laguere: HAS Actions for Women’ s Health

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wulZmbDRnXA

Hospital Update:
Many of you have asked questions about the security and state of affairs in Haiti and at the hospital. Below is a brief report addressing some of your questions.
Security: The turmoil in Port au Prince continues with ongoing gang attacks increasing the number of gang controlled neighbourhood territories. The situation has further weakened the struggling health system in the country. Several large hospitals have been burnt down, others looted and as a result have closed their doors.

Fortunately, this is not the case for HAS. Although the Artibonite Valley, where the hospital is located, is still viewed by many as a red zone, the overall security situation near the hospital has improved. Some roads have reopened.

The police station in the nearby town of Verrettes continues to be staffed and is being reinforced by the anti-gang unit. Concrete efforts have been made to open the other nearby police stations in Liancourt and Petite Riviere.

At one point last year, staff members slept in the hospital but once police presence was re-established in Verrettes with the anti-gang unit, they were able to return to their homes on campus. As well community members in the HAS service are quietly mobilizing to return to their homes for those that were displaced.

The HAS team has been growing in the past year, recruiting from communities throughout Haiti. There are now 600 employees. Staff members visiting PAP travel to and from HAS via public transportation as it is the easiest way to travel discretely when passing through gang-controlled areas.

Specialists who come from PAP are staying for longer periods at HAS – usually a month at least – to minimize travel back and forth. There is a group of 25 social service residents currently living on campus now to complete their training.
Supplies: The ports have been open, and the hospital has recently been able to clear several containers. The containers are broken down into small loads at the PAP logistics base and the supplies transported to the HAS campus in box trucks. This is a more costly and time-consuming process, but it is the best way to transport items to campus.

Community Services: The health agents have done an excellent job of getting out for home visits and into the community. The staff held many more mobile clinics in remote areas where it is safe to travel and to serve the people who have been displaced from their homes and communities.

Recently HAS conducted a special campaign regarding cervical cancer. Over a 3-4 week period approx.. 1,000 women received education and screening for this insidious disease.


Mariano’s Story
At Hôpital Albert Schweitzer Haiti (HAS), their commitment to combating malnutrition has transformed lives, exemplified by the inspiring journey of 14-month-old Mariano.
In early September, Mariano was admitted to the hospital with pneumonia and severe malnutrition, a combination that posed significant risks to his young life. The pediatric team, sprang into action and immediately a comprehensive treatment plan was put into place. Treatment included antibiotics for his pneumonia and a tailored nutritional rehabilitation protocol to address his malnutrition.
During his stay in the malnutrition ward, the nurses offered compassionate care, creating a supportive environment for Mariano and his mother. Thanks to the team’s efforts and efficacy of the treatment plan Mariano responded remarkably well regaining his strength and vitality.

Mariano’s mother expressed heartfelt gratitude for the care her son received. She praised the availability and dedication of the medical staff, emphasizing how their support made a challenging time more manageable. Her words reflected the profound impact HAS has on the families it serves.
Mariano’s successful recovery is not just a personal victory; it symbolizes the ongoing commitment to fighting malnutrition. Each child’s journey is unique, and the staff continually refine their approaches to ensure the best possible care.
This is only one example of the many other stories of children and women whose lives have been saved thanks to the care provided by the team at HAS.
It is also thanks to YOU! Without your generous donations, CFHAS would not be able to continue supporting the vital services that the Maternal and Child Healthcare Programs provide. Together we are making a difference----one child and woman at a time.
We are so thankful for the support we have received from you over the past 22 years and hope that we may continue to count on support from out existing Friends and that we may welcome new Friends into our community of support.
We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give." Winston Churchill
DONATIONS MAY BE MADE AT:
Our website -www.cfhas.ca
Cheque to: Cdn. Friends of HAS-Haiti @ 9 Appalachian Trail, Hamilton, ON L9B 2X8
Canada Helps: www.canadahelps.org

HAS overview and commitment to improve of women’s mental and physical health.

04/02/2025

Hello Dear Canadian Friends of Hôpital Albert Schweitzer

With the blooming of the Flamboyant trees in Deschapelles, spring comes to Hôpital AlbertSchweitzer-Haiti. As they do in other seasons of the year, mothers and their children continue to seek care and services at the Hospital. Happily, despite the turmoil in the country, the dedicated and determined team at HAS continues to provide this much-needed health care for them and other members of the population it serves, in the Artibonite Valley.

As most of you know this is the first year in over 21 years that we are not holding our annual Haiti Happening Dinner and Silent Auction. While our annual fund-raising event has ended the need for support of the Maternal and Child Health Care Programs has not. Pregnant women still require prenatal care and assistance with safe deliveries, children still require screening and treatment for malnutrition. These are just two examples of how the funds you have provided in the past have helped change the lives of Haitian mothers and children. For that, we give a BIG thank you!

In lieu of attending a Haiti Happening Dinner and Silent Auction, this year we are appealing to your generous spirits to ask that you gift a comparable donation, during the month of April, to

CFHAS, which can be made via:

Our website -www.cfhas.ca

Cheque to: Cdn. Friends of HAS-Haiti @ 9 Appalachian Trail, Hamilton, ON L9B 2X8

Canada Helps: www.canadahelps.org