Our Journey
Building a medical facility is a complex project in the best of conditions, but building it in Gros-Mangles presented additional challenges. With no infrastructure for accessing supplies, no running water and no electricity or modern construction equipment, the construction took time and immense physical labor. It also took a lot of effort to raise the funds to purchase construction materials, hire an architect and construction experts to lead our team of volunteers.
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After several years of hard work, thanks to the generosity of donors, the volunteer work of SU students and faculty, the expertise of the Gros-Mangles construction team, the leadership of Haitian physician Dr. Jean Rony, and the commitment of our Haitian medical team, the medical center became operational on June 1, 2020. Since the opening, patients have been rushing to the facility, deeply grateful for this major improvement in their daily lives.
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Despite these major successes, there's always more to be done.
Our History
Winter 2013
Winter 2014
Winter 2015
Winter 2016
Winter 2017
Winter 2018
Winter 2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
Kids in Gros-Mangles have few places to play that are safe. That's why the service project conducted by the students and faculty from the French program at Shippensburg University's Global Language and Cultures Department was so important.
Drs. Belval-Ragone and Mitaut have been taking groups of students to Haiti since January 2013. Led by Haitian-born facilitator Jonas Celius, the group of students and faculty built a 5,200 square feet playground for l'École Presbytérale in 2013. The group returned in 2014 and completed the project adding 4,000 square feet to the playground.
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See SU alum Ally Hill's full documentary.
The pharmacy was started in January 2014, at the request of the people of Gros-Mangles.
At the time, it would take two and a half hours to travel from Gros-Mangles to the nearest medical facility. Very few families own a vehicle, and taxis are expensive. When people can afford transportation, the roads are difficult to travel -- flat tires are a common occurence -- and they make travel extremely unpleasant or even hazardous for those who are sick, injured or pregnant. As a result, the people of Gros-Mangles were not able to access the care they needed.
A village committee spent 2014 securing land and a deed for what we thought would be a pharmacy.
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Building a medical facility is a complex project in the best of conditions, but building it in Gros-Mangles presented additional challenges. With no infrastructure for accessing supplies, no running water and no electricity or modern construction equipment, the construction took time and immense physical labor. It also took a lot of effort to raise the needed funds to purchase construction materials, and hire an architect and construction experts to lead our team of volunteers.
During the Winter of 2015, a service learning trip was conducted where students of Shippensburg University visited the village of Gros-Mangles and helped level the ground and build the foundation for the medical facility.
During the Winter of 2016, a service learning trip was conducted where students of Shippensburg University visited the village of Gros-Mangles and raised the walls of the medical facility.
During the Winter of 2017, a service learning trip was conducted where students of Shippensburg University visited the village of Gros-Mangles and raised the roof of the medical facility.
During the Winter of 2018, the floors were poured and the electrical wiring was installed inside the facility.
During the Winter of 2019, the plumbing and painting of the facility was completed.
The medical facility officially opened on June 1, 2020.
That same year, Project Gros Mangles officially incorporated into a 501(c)3 to support the operations of the Belval Medical Center (BMC) and its staff of six. The BMC offers emergency, in-patient and primary care, regular vaccination campaigns and women’s health workshops.
The first baby was delivered soon after the doors opened!
A food program for children was added. The BMC was able to provide disaster relief after the 8/14/21 earthquake in Haiti.
Security cameras were installed security around the facility and the hunger relief program was expanded.
The lab setup for testing procedures was completed. In response to the cholera outbreak, additional space was built to treat the cholera patients. In addition, several rounds of emergency food was sent to Haiti to help the people of Gros-Mangles.