Behind-the-Scenes Heroes: Meet Pierre the Handyman at Heartline Haiti

When we think of healthcare, we often focus solely on the doctors and nurses who care for patients. Yet, it takes a dedicated team of all kinds of staff members to ensure a medical center operates smoothly, enabling patients to receive the high-quality healthcare they deserve.

At Heartline Haiti, Pierre, the handyman, plays a crucial role in keeping the maternity center running efficiently. His work ensures that women and their newborns receive the best possible care in a country where access to essential healthcare is a challenge.

Pierre shares, “I … make sure that the Maternity Center always has clean water, especially for cooking and for the new mothers who come for consultations. I wipe all the windows and clean all the rooms every day. If the staff need to shop for food, I’m their man. In short, I do all the odd jobs at the Maternity Center, and I do it with pleasure.”

The significance of keeping a maternity center operational in Port-au-Prince cannot be overstated. Haiti faces some of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world, and there were no dedicated maternal services in the area until Heartline opened its doors in 2007. Before Heartline, women had little to no access to prenatal or maternal care, leading to tragic consequences for mothers and infants alike. Nationally, Haiti’s infant mortality rate is 48 deaths per 1,000 live births—the highest in the Western Hemisphere  .

Because of Heartline, women now have access to critical maternal services, and the outcomes are nothing short of remarkable. The Heartline Maternity Center has helped drastically reduce infant mortality in its service area, and this progress illustrates what’s possible when comprehensive care is made accessible.

During the first year that One Day’s Wages partnered with Heartline, 150 women received a full suite of maternal services, and astonishingly, Heartline’s infant mortality rate has been 0%—a stark contrast to the national average of 5.7%. These numbers reflect a powerful model of care that is saving lives and providing hope to families.

Pierre adds, “I’m very happy to be working with this organization because, through my work, I can help thousands of women transform their lives. Initially, my goal was just to earn money to support my family, but this job has given me so much more.”

Like Pierre, you too become part of this vital, behind-the-scenes impact when you donate to One Day’s Wages projects. It takes an entire team of passionate individuals—and generous donors—to create change and transform lives. Together, we are ensuring that mothers and babies in Haiti receive the care they need to thrive.

Written by Ellie White

SOURCES:

World Bank. “Mortality rate, infant (per 1,000 live births) – Haiti.” World Bank Data.

WHO, “Maternal Mortality in Haiti.

UNICEF. “Infant mortality rate in Haiti.”

Heartline Ministries. “Impact Stories: Maternity Center.”