The leading noncommunicable disease in Haiti are ischemic heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. According to WHO data in 2018, heart disease has reached 12,650 or 15.24% of total deaths in Haiti while diabetes causes 72 out of every 1000 deaths or 4.9% of deaths in Haiti. Moreover, 4,000 Haitian children are faced with the almost certainty of death from type-1 diabetes. The high rate of mortality due to Diabetes is caused by mismanagement of the disease, lack of insulin, and traditional Haitian diets, as well as a lack of cultural understanding with regards on how to control and manage the disease. As for stroke, WHO reported in 2018 that the total number of deaths has reached 9,047 and approximately 12% of deaths in Haiti can be attributed to stroke. ("Life expectancy at birth in Haiti", 2017).
The country's main challenge is the lack of financial. Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere with more than 50% of Haitians live below poverty line. They live on less than $2 a day and have no access to unemployment or disability financial support ("The Top 10 Most Important Facts About Poverty in Haiti", 2019). Furthermore, the country is plagued by corruption, gang violence, drug trafficking, and organized crime. It is reported that "the government spends only $12 per capita annually on the health of its citizens. The majority (80%) of health spending therefore is out-of-pocket and supported through international aid" ("Health: NCDs and Communicable Disease", 2019). Additionally, cultural traditions significantly impact the management of diseases among Haitians. Many believed that traditional medications, such as asowosi and herbal tea, are more effective than ordinary medication (Bolivar, 2018). Therefore, having a prevention or control measures for various diseases and surviving is close to impossible.
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CURRENT MEASURES:
Heart Disease: They conducted a first longitudinal, population-based cohort to study the natural history of CVD in Haiti hoping to use this data to estimate the prevalence and incidence of CVD in Haiti as well as to understand the determinants of the CVD epidemic. This new knowledge can be translated into policy and practice that will directly improve health outcomes of Haitians. ("Cardiovascular Disease in Haiti", 2021)
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Stroke: They hold a stroke community class to help empower patients in their ability to be more independent in performing everyday tasks. (Henry, 2019)
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Diabetes: The Pediatric Diabetes Program at Hôpital Sacré Coeur in northern Haiti provides a comprehensive, free care to children and young adults with type 1 diabetes ("Pediatric Diabetes Program", 2018). They also carry out community education about the disease ("Making a Diabetes Difference in Haiti", 2014).