While Haiti is one of the countries in the world receiving extensive economic assistance, it has been recently classified as the poorest nation in the world with an estimated 80% of its citizens living below the poverty level.

This extreme poverty rate leads to many challenges for citizens of Haiti. When compared with a United States citizen, the average Haitian is 4.5 times as likely to be unemployed, is half as likely to be able to read, lives 16 years fewer, and is more than 15 times more likely to die before the age of 5.

Adding to this crisis are the alarming statistics that in Haiti, one doctor serves 4000 people (compared with one doctor serving 375 people in the USA) and one dentist serves 33,000 people (compared with 2000 people in the USA).

The aim of Haiti Health Initiative is to improve the overall health and well-being of rural Haitians, one community at a time.

We seek to accomplish this through providing education and services in primary health care, dental care, public health, and nutrition within each community at risk.

These programs, of course, require funding.

In addition to asking the members of HHI to volunteer their time, HHI members are asked to raise funds within their personal circles of influence.

HHI also seeks private and government grants that are in keeping with the principles and goals of HHI.

HHI accepts donations from other interested contributors.

The funds raised are used to buy medical and dental supplies, hygiene kits, and construction materials. All of these supplies and materials are used to provide for the overall health of rural Haitians.