Care and Treatment

About St. Damien Pediatric Hospital

Providing Life-saving health care for more than 35 years

The healthcare programs at St. Damien Pediatric Hospital are driven by the gospel command to care for the sick and address the deep injustices of poverty that make health care inaccessible for so many. Extreme poverty in Haiti imposes an immense burden of illness and suffering on children. 

As part of Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos or Nos Petits Frères et Sœurs, St. Damien Pediatric Hospital treats children in desperate need with quality and dignified health care. Staff actively involve and educate parents in their child’s care through dialogue, on-site education, and ongoing support. 

Hospital Facilities and Services

Hospital Overview

224 Beds Dedicated to Pediatric and Maternity Care

20-bed

Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU)

10-bed

Pediatric Intensive Care

17-bed

Oncology Ward

40-bed

Maternity Ward

 Average Hospital Stay for a Child Is: 2 months

Specialized Care Programs

  • Serves approximately 100 children daily
  • Symbolic service fee: 10¢ (often waived due to financial hardship)
  • Emergency Room stay: 3 days (average), requiring a parent’s 24/7 presence
  • Ward stays: Parents may visit but are not required to stay overnight
Patients waiting with their guardians in a colorful outdoor hallway for treatment at St. Damien Pediatric Hospital

Tuberculosis Program

A mother holding her young child at St. Damien Pediatric Hospital

Treats Pulmonary and Extra-Pulmonary TB in children 14 years and younger

Under 6 years: 6-month treatment

6–14 years: 8-month treatment

Initial 2-month in-patient care, with medication provided by Haiti’s National TB program

Maternity Care Services for Mothers and Infants

Focuses on high-risk mothers with a team of about 50 specialists, including Obstetricians/Gynecologists, Anesthesiologists and Midwives.

Collaborates closely with outreach clinics in Port-au-Prince, serving some of the most impoverished and dangerous communities in the Western Hemisphere.

An ultrasound technician performing an ultrasound on a mother at St. Damien Pediatric Hospital

Neonatology Unit for Premature and At-Risk Newborns

Dedicated care for Haiti’s highest-risk newborns, ensuring critical early intervention and treatment

Malnutrition Program Supporting Child Development

Addresses Haiti’s alarming child malnutrition rates

Runs a 6-week intensive program with:

  • F100: High-energy milk fortified with vitamins and minerals.
  • Plumpy Nut: Peanut paste enriched with essential nutrients.

Weekly consultations for consistent monitoring and improvement

A nurse cleans the hand of a young child being treated for malnutrition at St. Damien Pediatric Hospital in Haiti

Radiology and Imaging Services

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Performs approximately 400 digital x-rays monthly

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90% of x-rays focus on chest exams for respiratory infections

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Digital images are shared with external radiologists in the U.S. and Europe for expert opinions

Pediatric Oncology and Hematology Center

A nurse takes the blood pressure and temperature of a young child at St. Damien Pediatric Hospital in the oncology wing
A nurse checks a child's temperature while the child sits in a chair.
  • Conditions We Treat
  • How We Treat Them

Treats Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders Since 2006:

 
Our Oncology and Hematology team provides comprehensive care for children diagnosed with:

  • Solid tumors (e.g., neuroblastoma, Wilms tumor)
  • Blood cancers (e.g., leukemia, lymphoma)
  • Hematological diseases (e.g., aplastic anemia)

Treatment Types 

Our multidisciplinary team provides individualized treatment plans that may include:

  • Chemotherapy

  • Blood transfusions

  • Immunotherapy

  • Surgery

  • Supportive care and symptom management

  • Nutritional and psychosocial support

A surgical team performs open heart surgery in one of the various operating rooms at St. Damien Pediatric Hospital

Pediatric Surgical Services

  • Equipped with two surgical suites, a recovery room, and prep facilities
  • Staff includes physicians, nurses, and technicians
  • 360 surgeries annually, including:
    • Colostomy
    • Hypospadias
    • Hydrocephalus
    • Oncology referrals
  • Visiting surgical teams perform an additional 160 surgeries per year
  • Emergency surgeries: 7 days a week
  • Non-emergency surgeries: Monday–Friday

Laboratory Services

Conducts 1,500 hematologic exams and 4,000 bacteriological exams monthly. Offers tests for:

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Malaria
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HIV
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Sickle Cell Disease

Pharmacy and Medication Access

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Supplies medications and medical supplies for in-patient and out-patient care.

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Essential medications are sourced from Action Medeor (Germany), ensuring quality and reliability.

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Overseen by an international volunteer pharmacist for training and quality control.

Public Health and Community Programs

  • Serves over 20,000 out-patients annually, including HIV care services
  • Provides standard pediatric vaccinations to all hospital patients

Dental Clinic for Children and Families

Offers dental services for children and adults

Monday – Friday

How to Sustain St. Damien Hospital Programs

Any and every gift you give helps end the suffering of a child. Please consider funding a dire need with a transformational gift. We would love for you to join the St. Damien Pediatric Hospital giving community: Hearts for Haiti 

With your consistent monthly support, the dedicated and courageous medical staff can count on steady funds to keep the hospital running. You’ll be welcomed, regularly updated, and recognized as a heroic heart. 

Support Care & Treatment Programs

Contact St. Damien Pediatric Hospital

For more information, please contact: Jennifer Rayno jrayno@nphusa.org

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A woman cradles a child in her arms.

Help Save Lives at St. Damien Pediatric Hospital

Your support provides critical medical care to children and high-risk expectant mothers in Haiti through St. Damien Pediatric Hospital.