PEDIATRICS Vol. 21 No. 1 January 1958, pp. 114-116
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HÔPITAL ALBERT SCHWEITZER

Alexander M. Earle M.D.1

1 Hôpital Albert Schweitzer. P.O. Box 4, Saint-Marc, Haiti.

THE Hòpital Albert Schweitzer, Deschapells, Haiti, in the heart of the Artibonite Valley is at present serving a population of about 40,000 and will extend its area, as funds become available, to take in more of the estimated population of 200,000 to 250,000 people now living in the Valley. It is, incidentally, the only general hospital in this entire area, and excepting one small ill-equipped maternity hospital and one outpatient clinic, the only hospital or clinic of any kind in the valley. [See FIG. 1. in SOURCE PDF]

The people of the Artibonite are among the poorest in the world and are probably the poorest in the western hemisphere. The annual yearly family income is estimated at below 60 dollars. This factor coupled with an intensely overpopulated land has converted a physically magnificent land into a diseased, poverty-ridden valley.

Nearly all the people living in the Artibonite are suffering from chronic and recurrent malaria. The most severe form being the falciparium (malignant) variety which takes a heavy toll of lives every year. The estimated number of active cases of pulmonary tuberculosis living with their families varies from a low of 15,000 to a high of 30,000. Children and adults suffer from many of the parasitic diseases and there is also an incredibly high incidence of venereal disease among the people.

The hospital named for the famous "Jungle Doctor," Albert Schweitzer, of French Equatorial Africa was built and endowed by the Grant Foundation of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The hospital was opened in July 1956 as a 50-bed general hospital and at present the average inpatient census is around 65 to 70, one-half being infants and children. The outpatient department sees from 100 to 200 patients on clinic days. In addition, special clinics accommodate approximately 150 more patients.

The staff includes six doctors; one full-time surgeon, one pediatrician, three doctors in the general practice group (mainly surgery and medicine) and a full-time medical director.