Haiti is a Caribbean country. Along with the Dominican Republic, it occupies the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago. Ayiti (land of high mountains) was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the mountainous western side of the island. The country's highest point is Pic la Selle, at 2,680 metres (8,793 ft). The total area of Haiti is 27,750 square kilometres (10,714 sq mi) and its capital is Port-au-Prince. Haitian Creole and French are the official languages.

Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere and has experienced political violence throughout its history. Most recently, in February 2004, an armed rebellion forced the resignation and exile of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, and a provisional government took control with security provided by the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). Rene Preval, the current president, was elected in the Haitian general election, 2006.

The medical system of Haiti continues to cope with the nation’s serious health needs. The country has one physician for every 4,000 people and few medical facilities.

Recently HCM partnered with Project Haiti Heart to build and equip an OB-GYN adjacent to our hospitals in Fonds Parissien. These two facilities will serve a population to 80,000 with quality healthcare. These are some ways your donations could help!

$25 – Provide lifesaving medication
$100/mo salary/month for a Dr/Nurse
$2500 a water well for a village
$500 – Cesarean section delivery

Having a hot meal each day is only a dream to most Haitians. A 100 pound bag of rice sells for about $54. But a typical familymay earn only $30 a month. It is impossible to feed a familyunder such conditions. A typical meal may include rice, beans or fish. Each meal is designed to meet a child's most urgent needs for nourishment.

HCM's six nutrition centers serve about 7,480 meals to children every day. The centers offer an intensive feeding program for the very young who already suffer from second- and third-degree malnutrition. Schoolchildren suffering from malnutrition and HCM sponsored children also receive one hot meal each day. It will probably be the only meal they eat for the day.

An education gives each child a real chance at breaking the cycle of poverty so prevalent in this country. HCM schools give Haiti's young hope for a better tomorrow. The students are taught reading, writing, arithmetic and other basic courses in French. Each student takes the government's official test at the end of our program. A Haitian child's thirst for knowledge is great and is hampered only by physical hunger and poverty. Our goal is to place a school in every city or village where an HCM church stands.