The Urgent Need for a Hospital on La Tortue Island, Haiti
Imagine a woman, heavy with child, making the journey from her home in search of basic medical care, only to be turned away at the door of hope. This is not fiction—it is a grim reality for many residents of La Tortue Island (Île de la Tortue) in Haiti, a place where medical resources are scarce to nonexistent.
In one heartbreaking instance, a pregnant woman from La Tortue Island traveled to the neighboring Dominican Republic, desperate for help as her due date approached. Instead of finding sanctuary, she was refused entry into a hospital and forced to give birth outside, in conditions no one should endure. Her story reflects the broader plight of the island’s residents and highlights the dire need for accessible healthcare in this overlooked region.
See Video Here: Video Link on Reddit
Life on La Tortue Island
La Tortue, a small island off the northern coast of Haiti, is home to approximately 30,000 people. Known for its rich history as a pirate haven in the 17th century, today it is a place of profound poverty and neglect. The island lacks basic infrastructure, including reliable roads, electricity, and clean water. Most troubling, however, is the complete absence of a hospital or fully equipped medical facility.
When emergencies arise, residents are left with few options. They must either endure long boat rides to the mainland or neighboring countries or forgo medical care altogether. For pregnant women, the elderly, and individuals with chronic or acute illnesses, these options are often fatal.
The Haitian woman in the middle was denied entry into a hospital in Dominican Republic.
A Harsh Reality for Pregnant Women
Pregnancy and childbirth should be a time of joy and celebration, but for women on La Tortue, this can be a life threatening time. The maternal mortality rate in Haiti is already one of the highest in the Western Hemisphere, and the lack of medical care on the island makes the situation even more critical.
The story of the woman giving birth outside a hospital in the Dominican Republic underscores the desperation many face. Turned away because she lacked proper documentation or resources, she was left vulnerable and exposed in one of the most critical moments of her life. Her experience serves as a tragic reminder of how far La Tortue is from having the basic human right to healthcare.
The Case for a Hospital on La Tortue
The absence of medical facilities on La Tortue is not just an inconvenience—it is a crisis. A hospital on the island would save lives, providing emergency care, prenatal and postnatal services, as well as treatment for common diseases and injuries. It would also reduce the financial and emotional burden on residents forced to travel long distances for basic care.
Building a hospital on La Tortue is not only possible but essential. It requires the collaboration of international organizations, and the global community. Funding, medical supplies, and trained healthcare workers are critical to making this vision a reality.
How You Can Help
Awareness is the first step toward change. Share this story of the woman who gave birth outside a hospital. Advocate for increased support for TIU and other healthcare initiatives in Haiti. Donate to organizations working to improve medical access in undeserved areas.
Together, we can help ensure that no one on La Tortue—or anywhere else—has to endure the suffering caused by the lack of basic medical care. The people of this island deserve dignity, safety, and hope, and a hospital would be a powerful step in the right direction.
Let’s not allow their voices to be silenced by the waves of indifference. It’s time to act.
If you’d like to support this cause, consider donating. Every effort, big or small, brings us closer to making a hospital on Tortuga Island a reality.