The Rotary Club of The Palisades serves the towns of Edgewater, Leonia, and Palisades Park in New Jersey. It is one of 45,000 clubs throughout the world that form Rotary International, a global network of over 1.2 million members committed to Service Above Self—to solve real problems to better our world. You may have heard of Rotary’s partnership with the Bill Gates Foundation to eradicate polio once and for all. Another major area of Rotary’s focus is finding ways to improve maternal and child healthcare in underserved areas of the world.

Holy Name Medical Center is a prominent medical network based in Teaneck, New Jersey that serves up equal parts of medical innovation and compassion.

Holy Name Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Holy Name Medical Center. It coordinates all support activities provided to Hôpital Sacré Coeur.

Hôpital Sacré Coeur has emerged as a beacon of life-saving care in one of the world’s most medically underserved nations. Located in the peaceful mountains of Milot, Haiti, Sacré Coeur is the largest private hospital and the most comprehensive healthcare facility in northern Haiti.

Haiti Health Promise is the entity created under the Holy Name Foundation to support Hôpital Sacré Coeur after the Foundation acquired CRUDEM Foundation, the entity that previously assisted Sacré Couer.

According to the World Bank, Haiti is the poorest country in Latin America and the Caribbean and among the poorest countries in the world. A typical village in Haiti often lacks reliable infrastructure, with many homes constructed from simple materials such as wood, tin, or cinder blocks, offering limited protection against the elements. Access to clean water and sanitation is scarce; if available, electricity is often intermittent. Economic opportunities are limited (families subsist on an average income of $750 a year), leading to reliance on subsistence farming, small-scale trade, or external aid. Severe food insecurity affects more than 50% of the population, leaving almost half the children with only a cup of food every few days. According to the Haiti Ministry of Public Health and Population, 24% of Haitian children do not live to the age 5.

There is limited and unreliable state-provided healthcare in Haiti. Haiti has only one (1) physician for 10,000 people. It only has an estimated 300 pediatricians serving the needs of over 4.8 million children aged 14 or younger. There are only three (3) pediatric residency programs with a total of 27 positions. The number of skilled OB-GYN physicians is equally bleak and points to a grossly underserved medical area.

As a result, in Haiti, infants are dying at a rate 10 times higher than in the U.S. This is due, in part, to the fact that 42% of Haitian mothers give birth without a skilled attendant, often on dirt floors. Outcomes are infinitely better at a facility like Hôpital Sacré Coeur (Sacré Coeur) in Milot. With limited personnel and infrastructure, Sacré Coeur is the region’s only hope for safe childbirth and pediatric care.

Even so, resources are stretched thin and more can be done, particularly for premature infants born before 32 weeks. The infant mortality rate for neonatal babies in Haiti is 38 deaths per 1,000 live births, a rate significantly higher than in other countries. Many deaths among neonates can be prevented when high-impact interventions target key causes such as access to quality healthcare.

A partnership between the Rotary Club of The Palisades and Holy Name Medical Center aims to deliver life-saving hospital care at Sacré Coeur for premature infants born before 32 weeks or weighing less than 1,500 grams, ensuring that they survive and thrive. These vulnerable newborns require highly specialized equipment such as the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) isolettes that replicate the protective environment of the womb, including precise control of lighting, temperature, humidity, and sound. Survival rates will dramatically increase by creating optimal conditions for growth and development.

This joint project supports the UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) to reduce the neonatal mortality rate to 12/1,000 live births by increasing the number of life-saving NICU isolettes available at Sacré Coeur, thereby increasing the number of neonates with access to this specialized and critical equipment.

As a matter of procedure, Holy Name Medical Center’s medical, administrative, and facilities staff and their Hôpital Sacré Coeur (Sacré Coeur) counterparts illume areas of critical concern through regular biweekly video conference calls. Members of both staffs then put their heads together to prescribe the best next steps for resolving the issue at hand.

In this case, Sacré Coeur conducted a comprehensive needs assessment and determined that the lack of critical neonatal resources limits Sacré Coeur’s ability to address the increasing demands from the patient populations in northern Haiti. In particular, the specific equipment required to support this mission effectively—the NICU isolettes and heart monitors—were identified as a critical need. Although Sacré Coeur currently has a few older models, additional and more up-to-date equipment is called for to service Haiti’s next generation.

Through the ongoing collaboration between Holy Name Medical Center and Hôpital Sacré Coeur (Sacré Coeur), the latter identified the dire need for additional state-of-the-art Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) isolettes and heart monitors to boost its current neonatal intensive care capabilities; at this time, Sacré Coeur has only a few outdated isolettes and heart monitors. All equipment will be transferred to the new Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at new Women’s and Children Hospital once that wing is completed.

  

Isolettes and heart monitors are integral to any NICU, especially for premature infants born before 32 weeks or weighing less than 1,500 grams (approximately 3.3 pounds), ensuring they survive and thrive. These vulnerable newborns require highly specialized equipment such as the NICU isolettes that replicate the protective environment of the womb, including precise control of lighting, temperature, humidity, and sound. With such equipment, which creates optimal conditions for growth and development outside of the womb, their survival rates will dramatically increase.

In a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), technology and training are key. An isolette, also known as an incubator, is a clear plastic, enclosed bed or bassinet used in NICUs to provide a controlled, safe environment for premature or sick newborns. It helps regulate the baby's body temperature, humidity, and oxygen levels. Isolettes also offer a protective barrier against germs and drafts. Following are the major benefits offered by isolettes.

1. Thermoregulation: Isolettes maintain a constant temperature, preventing babies from overheating or getting cold, which is especially important for premature infants who have difficulty regulating their own body temperatures.
2. Protection from Infection: The enclosed design helps minimize exposure to germs and bacteria, reducing the risk of infection for vulnerable newborns and ensuring a stable environment for the baby's growth and development.
3. Humidity Control: Isolettes can control the humidity level within the enclosure, which is crucial for respiratory health, especially for babies who may be on oxygen or have respiratory issues.
4. Oxygen Control: Isolettes have the ability to control the oxygen levels within the enclosure, allowing healthcare professionals to provide the appropriate oxygen support for the baby.
5. Easy Access: Isolettes are designed with clear plastic walls, providing easy visibility for medical staff to monitor the baby's condition without disturbing the controlled environment.
6. Transport: Isolettes are designed to be portable, allowing for the safe transport of the baby between different parts of the hospital or to another facility.

In summary, isolettes are essential pieces of equipment in NICUs, providing a controlled and protective environment for vulnerable newborns, especially premature infants, and promoting their growth and development. One goal of this venture is to reduce infant mortality by 10% annually, and with additional isolettes, Sacré Coeur’s NICU capacity can be significantly expanded.

The Rotary Club of The Palisades will raise the funds. You can track our fundraising progress by clicking here.

Holy Name will oversee and underwrite costs associated with:

Negotiating with and selecting vendors from whom to purchase equipment
Insuring, transporting, delivering and installing the equipment for immediate use at Sacré Coeur’s current facilities until the equipment can be transferred to the new Women’s and Children’s Hospital
Training local staff and providing technical support
Maintaining the equipment

Holy Name Medical Center’s Chief of Nursing will assemble a training team of relevant Holy Name medical and nursing specialists to train local technicians via conference calls and occasional on-site visits, troubleshoot any issues, and monitor the ongoing use of the isolettes and heart monitors.

Hôpital Sacré Coeur (Sacré Coeur) will report any staffing or maintenance issues to Holy Name’s medical and administrative staff. Sacré Coeur employs two (2) biomedical technicians skilled in maintaining and repairing Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) equipment. Should those technicians need additional assistance, the standard protocol is to alert Holy Name's Executive Vice President of Operations who will advise on the next steps. NICU staff live in or near Milot and cover the NICU operations 24/7. Any medical or maintenance issues will be addressed promptly and serviced by Sacré Coeur’s staff.

Recent news coverage has been highlighting the turbulence and violence in Port-au-Prince where gangs control what goes on in the capital. As such, you may wonder, “How can I know that the donation I make for the purchase of the isolettes and heart monitors will ultimately result in the successful delivery, installation, and ongoing use of this equipment?”

It should be noted that there is not just one Haiti, but in fact Two Haitis—Port-au-Prince and the rest of the country. Milot, where Hôpital Sacré Coeur (Sacré Coeur) is located, is eight (8) hours away from the chaos of the capital. It is a peaceful village secluded in the northern mountains and is blessed with a vibrant community spirit and closely knit community life. The people in the Milot area recognize the vital role Sacré Coeur plays in their lives—it is their hospital in which they take great pride.

 Click map to see larger image

Secondly, after 13 years of regularly supplying medical equipment and supplies to Sacré Coeur, Holy Name Medical Center (Holy Name) knows the ins and outs of how to successfully get materials from the U.S. to Haiti: It ships into ports in the north, thereby bypassing the vagaries of Port-au-Prince.

Lastly, Holy Name and its Foundation have a legal and moral obligation to honor the restriction you place on your gift to Holy Name Foundation for the ROTARY HAITI PROJECT. The Holy Name Foundation guarantees that 100% of your donation will go toward the purchase of the two (2) isolettes and two (2) heart monitors and ancillary equipment, which will be used at Sacré Coeur’s existing facilities until the Women’s and Children’s Hospital is completed. Through the generosity of the Foundation, all costs associated with procurement, transportation, delivery, installation and ongoing maintenance of the equipment, as well as the training of local medical personnel, will be underwritten by the Foundation.

All giving and accounting guidelines are strictly followed according to US standards. The Foundation’s books are audited along with Holy Name Hospital’s books. As noted on the donation form, the Holy Name Foundation is a recognized 501(c)(3) and your donation is fully tax deductible.

Donations may be made to the ROTARY HAITI PROJECT through Holy Name Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Holy Name Medical Center and a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Tax ID# 22-273-7143. All donations are tax deductible to the full extent of the law.

Donation forms may be found here.

Gifts will be routed to a restricted fund established for the Rotary Club of The Palisades within the Holy Name Foundation. Once the goal of $110,000 is reached, the funds will be released for the purpose of purchasing the specified equipment. You can track the status of the fundraising here.

Holy Name Foundation will acknowledge every gift received within 3 to 5 business days. It can also assist with any gift of stock, donor advised funds, IRA rollovers, etc. It can process a matching gift form if you work for or are retired from a matching gift company. Also, it can record a multi-year commitment, and the full value counts toward our $110,000 goal.

Any gift, no matter the amount, will be appreciated.

Donors fall into these categories:

 Bronze -     $1 - $499
 Silver -        $500 - $999
 Platinum -  $1,000 - $4,999
 Gold -          $5,000 – $9,999
 Diamond -  $10,000 and above

With their permission, donors of $5,000 or more will be acknowledged on palisades-rotary.org.

This partnership between the Rotary Club of The Palisades and Holy Name Medical Center (Holy Name) to provide intensive care neonatal equipment for the new Women’s and Children’s Hospital that Holy Name intends to construct at Hôpital Sacré Coeur (Sacré Coeur) is but one small piece of Holy Name’s larger vision of boosting the viability of Sacré Coeur and the community of Milot. Holy Name is committed to improving the care given by healthcare providers; increasing the capacity that Sacré Coeur can accommodate; enhancing the local communities’ health infrastructure; and expanding economic opportunities for the local population.

With the support of Holy Name, Sacré Coeur has come to play a vital role in the local community by employing and training a wide range of personnel, including doctors, nurses, medical staff, maintenance workers, security personnel, and groundskeepers. In fact, the hospital is the main economic engine for Milot and other areas in the north of Haiti.

By working closely with the community, Sacré Coeur understands the most pressing needs and helps prioritize necessary resources—even beyond the area of healthcare. For example, with Holy Name's assistance, Sacré Coeur is promoting food, water, energy, and oxygen self-sufficiency in Milot through plans to boost the vegetable, fruit, honey, and meat production generated on its 95-acre farm and to add 15 to 20 solar-powered wells to supply clean drinking water and irrigate community gardens.

Holy Name Foundation is actively engaged in raising the funds to cover the $8.5 million cost of constructing the new Women’s and Children’s Hospital. This transformative project will address critical maternal and neonatal health needs in northern Haiti and strengthen regional infrastructure.

Holy Name is seeking philanthropic partners to help build and equip this new Women’s and Children’s Hospital. For more information on how to contribute to this larger Holy Name initiative, contact the Holy Name Foundation or visit HaitiHealthPromise.org