Description:

Each year, at least 20 short-term mission teams, both general and medical, serve in Ouanaminthe, Haiti. The trips are planned by various churches and organizations throughout the U.S. and Canada.

In response to the need for more and better health care in Ouanaminthe, friends of COCINA joined in 2004 to build Univers Medical Center (UMC). Initially, the building was used only as a walk-in clinic, run by U.S. medical mission teams and open only several weeks per year. Today, UMC is a full-time hospital employing an all-Haitian staff and serving more than 35,000 patients annually.

The medical center serves the community 24 hours per day, seven days a week with seven doctors, five being specialists, and a full nursing and administration staff. Our services include:

Pharmacy
X-Ray room
Patient reception area
Surgery room
Pre-op and post-op rooms
Overnight recovery bed area
Medical exam rooms
Laboratory for on-site diagnostic tests (blood, urine, etc.)
Pediatrics room
Eye exam and eye procedure rooms
Dental procedure rooms
Maternity room and birthing room
Guest apartment for local staff
Our Mission

The mission of UMC is to provide Christ-centered healthcare to the people of Haiti with compassion, care, and integrity.

Our Goals

Our current goals are to improve the center’s existing critical care services including emergency care, lab services, pharmacy services, and dental care. We also plan to expand the surgery service line and add chronic care services, including hypertension, diabetes, maternity, ophthalmology, physical therapy, and mental health.

Today, COCINA is working with UMC staff to envision the future of improvements and extension of services. Currently, the clinic is working to provide better and more specialized newborn and elderly care. In the next several years, Univers Medical Clinic aims to add a general hospital and maintain the clinic for emergencies, routine doctor visits, pharmacy, and lab and imaging services. UMC plans to eventually include oncology, cardiology, neurology, and pediatric services.

In order to reach these goals COCINA appeals to the international community for grants, funding, and human resources.

Our Approach

In providing Christ-centered care to the people of Haiti, we strive to respect both the local culture and the individual. This level of care allows UMC the opportunity to be a beacon of light to the community and build an effective healthcare partnership within Haiti.

Many in Ouanaminthe have been lost to illnesses that would be easily overcome in the U.S. Providing quality healthcare education for both the community and our staff is essential to prevent these tragedies.

As in other countries, continued training and development of the UMC medical staff is vital. Helping to provide this training are visiting medical mission teams. Ten weeks per year, U.S. medical teams work with our local doctors and nurses to conduct specialty services such as general surgeries, OB-GYN surgeries, eye cataract surgeries, and physical therapy.

Our Recent Accomplishments

To meet its ever-growing healthcare demands, Univers Medical Center recently appointed a new Medical Clinic Director and hired five new doctors: an OBGYN, internist, ophthalmologist, orthopedic specialist, and pediatrician.

Along with its other specialty offerings, UMC has also added a growing mental health clinic.

A much-needed ambulance has recently been acquired to better serve the people of Ouanaminthe and the surrounding communities.

Our Needs

UMC is the most effective primary care facility in Ounaminthe. To continue and expand that excellent care, the clinic needs:

Personnel

Full-time missionary medical professional
Short-term mission teams to provide specialized care and staff training

Organizational Base: Columbus, Ohio

Other Programs: Education and Economic Development