In 2024, amid political instability, violence, and widespread poverty, Nos Petits Frères et Sœurs (NPFS) and St. Damien Pediatric Hospital continued to carry out their mission of protecting the most vulnerable. That year, the hospital’s neonatology unit provided more than 400 consultations, giving fragile newborns a chance to survive and thrive.
The Neonatal Challenge in Haiti
Haiti’s newborns face some of the harshest odds in the region. The neonatal mortality rate is around 25 deaths per 1,000 live births—nearly three times higher than the regional average. Too many mothers lack access to prenatal care, and babies are often born prematurely or
with complications such as respiratory distress or infections. Insecurity worsens these realities, making it difficult for families to reach hospitals or return for follow-up care.
In this context, St. Damien Pediatric Hospital—run by NPFS—is not simply a hospital. It is one of the very few safe havens where newborns can receive specialized, lifesaving care.
A Fragile Beginning: Baby “Samuel”
Behind each number lies a tiny human life.
One such story is that of Samuel (alias), born prematurely at just 1.5 kg. His mother, Guerline, arrived at St. Damien Pediatric Hospital after hours of painful contractions, terrified that she might lose her baby. When Samuel was born, he was immediately rushed to the neonatology unit.
For days, Guerline could not hold him. “When I finally saw him, I was afraid he would not survive,” she recalls. “He was so small, so fragile, like a little bird. But I also felt his strength, and I promised I would fight alongside him.”
The neonatology team placed Samuel under careful observation, treating him for respiratory distress, stabilizing his blood sugar, and monitoring his temperature around the clock. With antibiotics, oxygen therapy, and his mother’s devoted participation in his care, Samuel began to gain weight and strength.
Courage in the Face of Crisis
The doctors and nurses of St. Damien Pediatric Hospital, such as Dr. Daniel David, remain steadfast despite daily risks.
“Our work is to ensure a safe transition to life outside the womb, especially for the most fragile babies,” he explains. “Even when insecurity makes it dangerous to reach the hospital, families still come. They know their child’s life depends on it.”
Every case is a delicate balance of science, compassion, and resilience. Parents are trained to continue care after discharge—learning how to monitor their baby’s temperature, nutrition, and growth. But insecurity often disrupts this follow-up, as traveling for checkups can put families in danger.
Still, both staff and parents persist, fueled by love and determination.
NPFS: A Source of Hope
For over three decades, NPFS in Haiti has stood by children and families when no one else could. St. Damien Pediatric Hospital is the only free children’s hospital of its kind in the country, welcoming thousands of patients each year—without regard to their financial situation.
Through neonatology, NPFS protects Haiti’s most vulnerable: children born too soon, too small, or too sick to survive without specialized medical intervention. Each successful case represents not only the survival of a baby, but also the resilience of an entire family.
A Call to Care
In 2024, more than 400 newborns like Samuel were cared for in neonatology at St. Damien Pediatric Hospital. Each one represents a fight for life against the odds of poverty, instability, and fragility.
By supporting NPFS and St. Damien Pediatric Hospital, you are not just funding a medical intervention— you are giving a newborn the chance to breathe, to grow, and to one day smile in their mother’s arms.
Stand with Haiti’s children. Shape tomorrow.
Together, we can transform fragile beginnings into strong lives.