Hopital Albert Schweitzer (HAS) Haiti

Dr Schweitzer’s Hospital Fund (DSHF) has been supporting the Albert Schweitzer Hospital (HAS) in Haiti for many years and we have direct personal knowledge of the management of this hospital. We send regular annual donations, knowing with certainty that 100% of what is given will go directly towards the treatment of patients. This was the nearest functioning hospital to the zone of the devastating earthquake in January 2010 (approx 2 hours drive away): the hospital suffered no serious material damage but had a massive influx of patients as a result of the earthquake.

HAS serves as a 130 bed referral hospital for more than 345,000 impoverished people in the Artibonite Valley of central Haiti.  In addition, HAS provides community-based primary medical care and development programs.  An integrated rural health system, HAS is a model for health care facilities in developing countries around the world.

 The founders

In 1947, Larry and Gwen Mellon were  operating a cattle ranch  in Arizona.  Inspired by an article in Life Magazine about Dr. Albert Schweitzer’s humanitarian work in Africa and his ethic of “Reverence for Life,” they started a correspondence with Dr. Schweitzer which resulted in the decision by the Mellons to follow in his footsteps and establish a hospital to care for those in need.

Though aged 37, Larry Mellon had first to complete his medical studies.  They chose Haiti and found a suitable site there in the Artibonite river Valley where they built their hospital under Gwen’s supervision, and in June 1956, the hospital was opened.

Support

We are happy forward 100% of any donations we receive. Cheques should be sent to the address on the Contacts page, marked “For HAS Haiti”.

For Quick online payments that go 100% to HAS use the Paypal Donation button on the bottom of our website.

Go to www.hashaiti.org/hospital for more information.