People often ask NOVA volunteers why Haiti? Here are some of the sobering Haitian statistics that lead our founders to choose Haiti back in 2002:
- Poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere
- Long history of political instability
- National governmental support is scarce at best
- Only 50% of population has health care access (Much less outside Port-au-Prince)
- Infant (< 5 yrs. Old) mortality 127/1000 (USA: 6/1000; Spain, France, Germany, Italy: 4/1000; Cuba: 6/1,000)
- Life expectancy 59.5 years
- Probability at birth of not surviving to age 40 is 21.4%
- Tetanus immunization only 12% in pregnancy
- Only 28% of population has safe water access
- Undernourished population: 46%
- Population living below $2 per day is 78%
- Literacy only 41% of population
- Public expenditures on health: 2.9% of GDP (USA: 6.9%, Cuba 5.5%)
