GEOGRAPHY
Haiti makes up the western one-third of the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean. Hispanola is between Cuba and Puerto Rico, and the eastern two-thirds of the island is the Dominican Republic. Though it’s still recovering from a devastating earthquake in 2010, many of Haiti's landmarks dating to the early 19th century remain intact. Most of Haiti is mountainous, and the country's name comes from an Indian word that means high ground.
THE PEOPLE
Haiti has a population of just over 9 million people. Approximately 95% of the population is black. French is the official language of the country. The island was initially claimed by Spain, which later ceded the western third of the island to France. Prior to gaining its independence in 1804, Haiti was the French colony of Saint-Domingue. 80% of the population is Roman Catholic.
ECONOMY
Haiti is one of poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere (the third poorest in the world). Eighty percent of residents live in poverty. 60% of the population lives below the poverty line on less than $2 per day. It is one of the most densely populated and least developed countries in the Western Hemisphere.
Haiti has an agricultural economy. Over half of the world's vetiver oil (an essential oil used in high-end perfumes) comes from Haiti, and bananas, cocoa, and mangoes are important export crops. Haiti has also moved to expand to higher-end manufacturing, producing Android-based tablets and current sensors and transformers.
Vulnerability to natural disasters, as well as poverty and limited access to education are among Haiti's most serious disadvantages.Two-fifths of all Haitians depend on the agriculture sector, mainly small-scale subsistence farming, and remain vulnerable to damage from frequent natural disasters, exacerbated by the country's widespread deforestation. Haiti suffers from a severe trade deficit, which it is working to address by moving into higher-end manufacturing and more value-added products in the agriculture sector. Remittances are the primary source of foreign exchange, equaling nearly 20% of GDP. Haiti's economy was severely impacted by the 2010 Haiti earthquake which occurred on 12 January 2010.
EDUCATION
The enrollment rate for primary school in Haiti is 57%, and fewer than 30% of the students reach 6th grade. Secondary schools enroll 20% of eligible-age children. Haiti’s literacy rate is 52.9%. The Government has advocated the creation of a free public and universal education system for all primary school-age students in Haiti, but there is no government funding program available now or appropriated in the near future to provide for free public education for all children in Haiti. International private schools are primarily operated and funded by American and Canadian missions and churches and they educate 90% of the students.
HEALTH CARE
Haiti ranks last in the western hemisphere when it comes to healthcare spending. Economic instability has limited any growth in this area. Per capita, Haiti spends about US$83 annually on health care. There are 25 physicians and 11 nurses per 100,000 population. Only one-fourth of births are attended by a skilled health professional. Most rural areas have no access to health care, making residents susceptible to otherwise treatable diseases. In 2003, for example, the WHO confirmed an outbreak of typhoid fever in Haiti that, because of a lack of access to doctors and safe water, led to dozens of deaths. Haiti has the highest incidence of human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) outside of Africa. Approximately 5,000 Haitian babies are born infected with the AIDS virus annually.
HEMOPHILIA IN HAITI
There is no registry of patients with hemophilia in the Haiti. With little to no access to healthcare for most residents, and no means to get factor. Hemophilia patients often go undiagnosed and suffer from untreated bleeds that cause permanent joint damage and/or death.
