Haiti has the third highest rate of hunger in the world, and one in three Haitian children is malnourished. According to the World Health Organization, deficiencies of iron, vitamin A, and zinc rank among the top ten leading causes of death through disease in developing countries such as Haiti.

Iron deficiency, the most prevalent form of malnutrition, impairs physical growth and mental development in children. Iodine deficiency is the main cause of brain damage in the very young and a lack of Vitamin A can be fatal to infants. Starved of the proper nutrition, people can die from common infections like measles or diarrhea.

While an average American family spends just over 10 percent of their income on food, poor families spend more than 70 percent of their income to feed their families. Hospice St. Joseph, in conjunction with the World Food Program (PAM) distributes food to combat the effects of malnutrition in the Christ Roi neighborhood of Port-au-Prince.

As of this year, 69 families participate in our nutrition program each month receiving rice, beans and oil. Hospice’s cost to provide this service is about $12. (US) per family per month or about $140. per year. Mothers also attend monthly nutritional education sessions with our doctor. After each education session, babies and
mothers are weighed and examined.

Hospice is aware of the effects of health and nutrition on the academic success of our students. Many of our sponsored students are also seen by the doctors in our clinic, so we strive to ensure that health care issues do not interfere with the students’ ability to attend school and to succeed in their course of studies.