BACKGROUND
Last September I had the honor of attending an Impact Global Health Alliance (IGHA) workshop led by Dr. Henry Perry, co-founder of Impact Global Health Alliance (formerly Curamericas Global) and Barbara Muffoleto, senior program manager. I must admit I felt rather intimidated as a new volunteer in a room with IGHA professionals from around the world, though they were all welcoming. But I will never forget the big smiles and warmth of the two gentlemen from Haiti I happened to sit next to, Leon and Annaus. Leon is the founder of Haiti Outreach Ministries which collaborated with IGHA to launch the Healthy Mother’s, Healthy Children project or MASTAS in Haiti in 2020. Annaus is the MASTAS Project Leader.
I already had some interest in Haiti prior to that day because of my own travel experience the previous March. My husband and I were on a flight to Grand Bahama Island to visit friends. The plane was filled with health professionals who told us they usually travel to Haiti each year to volunteer, but were not allowed to enter that year because of the dangerous conditions. So, my acquaintance with Leon and Annaus the following fall led me to try to better understand the history of Haiti and what led up to the current situation. Though not all-inclusive, here is a timeline of events.
Historical Timeline
Pre-Columbian Era The indigenous Taino Peoples inhabited the island that is now Haiti and the Dominican Republic. They were peaceful farmers.
1492 Christopher Columbus lands and names the island Hispanola or Little Spain. Disease and enslavement follow.
Early 1500’s Genocide of Taino people
1697 Spain cedes western third of island to France. Enslavement continues.
1791 Slave revolt leads to the Haitian Revolution
1804 Haitian French Colony declares independence, but is required to pay back $560 million in today’s dollars. Read more
1915-1934 United States occupies Haiti
1957-1986 The Duvalier dynasty (Papa Doc and Baby Doc) rule Haiti with widespread human rights abuses.
1986-present may military coups and assassinations, most recently in 2021 (Read more from the UN) leading to violence, political instability, unemployment, and poverty.
1991 Thousands of Haitians flee violence and repression by boat. Most repatriated to Haiti by U.S. government; some stay as refugees. (Source)
2004, 2008 Multiple tropical storms and hurricanes
2010 Earthquake (7.0) causes widespread destruction; over 230,000 killed. Cholera (a bacterial disease-causing severe diarrhea and dehydration, usually spread in water) introduced.
2012 Hurricane Sandy leaves 20,000 homeless
2016 Hurricane Matthew, a category 4 storm, causing death, injury and widespread damage
2020 MASTAS initiative launched.
2021 Earthquake (7.2) more death and destruction
2022-present re-emergence of cholera
2024- present Level 4 State of Emergency. All commercial flights from U.S. to capital, Port-au-Prince, stopped.
2025 85-90% of Port-au-Prince controlled by gangs. Violence, political instability, food instability and the ongoing effects of past events continue. Read more here from the Miami Herald.
GOOD NEWS
Despite all of this traumatic history and the severe political and socioeconomic challenges that continue today, there is something very good happening. And that good news is what the MASTAS project is doing to improve lives for the people of Haiti. The project focus has been to improve maternal, child and family health through education and empowerment. The proven Care Group approach (International Journal for Equity in Health) began here in 2023. Mothers form small groups in each neighborhood and elect one Lead Mother to be trained by MASTAS staff to deliver lessons on key health topics. There is follow-up by the staff in the Lead Mothers’ homes and then by the Lead Mothers in the neighborhood homes. Thus, there is the benefit of a “ripple effect” through connection and education. The staff is also very in tune to the concerns of the mothers and adapts the lessons to their needs. For instance, last year a lesson was added about “stress management,” a very relevant though somewhat atypical public health care lesson. Below you can see the scope of lessons provided women in the Care Groups in 2024 and thus far in 2025.
2024:
| STDs/STIs |
| Complementary and Active Feeding for 6–11-Month-Old Infants |
| Stress Management |
| Healthy Birth Spacing |
| Family Planning |
| HIV |
| HIV Treatment & Prevention |
| Childhood vaccination |
| Child pneumonia |
| ANC – Care and Nutrition during Pregnancy |
| Child nutrition – EBF |
2025:
| Cholera (Repeat lesson Cholera #2) |
| Tuberculosis |
| Child nutrition 12-24 months |
| Handwashing / Tippy Tap |
| Pneumonia 2 |
| Worms: Infections from Soil and Food |
There are also promising and measurable outcomes that were reported in the IGHA 2025 Impact Report. (link). Here are some Program Highlights
208 Women Receiving Mother-to-Mother Health Education (up from 140 in 2024)
100% of women receiving monthly home visits
63% increase in project reach from 2023
HOPE
Not only has the project had measurable success toward meeting their healthcare goals, the women seem to take pride in what they are doing. They know the program has made a difference, thus giving them hope for a better future. To quote one neighborhood mother, “MASTAS has brought many changes to my community because children are getting sick less and they die less in the community.” Doesn’t that offer hope? This is why I believe this project is so deserving of recognition. In Part II of this series, you will hear from more Care Group women as they share how Impact Global Health Alliance and the MASTAS project have affected their lives.
Please consider how you can lift up the people of Haiti. Take a moment to reflect, express gratitude, and make a personal commitment to stand with those we serve.
Volunteer from anywhere – Remote or in-person, your skills and time can help more mothers and children survive and thrive. Get involved on your own time.
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