HDI's COVID-19 Response

Since the pandemic has challenged even powerful health care systems around the world, we were very apprehensive about the impact of COVID-19 in Haiti.  However, although accurate and complete data is a challenge and testing has been severely limited, it appears that the health impact of the coronavirus has been much less than feared.

This may be partly due to luck and aspects of the coronavirus that are not fully understood.  But it is likely also due to the strong efforts of many actors – the Haitian government, civil society organizations, community organizations and donors – that sprang into action to educate, mitigate the spread and prepare treatment facilities.

How HDI Contributed

HDI hosted a webinar featuring the leaders of Haiti’s National COVID-19 Commission to share with the philanthropic community what is being done and where people can plug in to help.  The event attracted over 100 attendees.  We produced and disseminated coronavirus information in print, radio spots and travelling sound trucks to reach remote towns. 

HDI also partnered with the Center for Haitian Leadership and Excellence to provide small grants to community leaders to inform and equip their communities to protect themselves.  Finally, we administered a large grant to the Association of Women Mayors funded by the Kellogg Foundation for education and prevention activities in 10 municipalities along the Haiti-Dominican Republic border, addressing one of Haiti’s largest vulnerabilities.

While HDI helped empower communities to protect themselves from the coronavirus, the original mission remains.  HDI continues to help our local partners protect their communities against the everyday scourges that harm people’s health and wellbeing – poverty, food insecurity, and lack of opportunity.