Women's health in Haiti: Addressing peripartum cardiomyopathy

Clinicians with the telehealth device at La Paix University Hospital.

Nestled in the heart of the Caribbean, Haiti is a land of vibrant culture and colorful homes, surrounded by white sand beaches. Haiti struggles with political instability and pervasive violence. Amid these challenges, access to the most basic services like healthcare remains an uphill battle for Haitians.

Maternal care resources, like trained birth attendants and birthing facilities, are scarce. Consequently, Haiti has the highest rates of maternal mortality in the Western Hemisphere. World Telehealth Initiative’s new program in partnership with La Paix University Hospital in Haiti is helping mothers access the care they need.

One of the greatest threats to women’s health in Haiti is peripartum cardiomyopathy, a rare but life-threatening heart condition. This disorder is characterized by the weakening and enlargement of a woman's heart during the last month of pregnancy or up to five months after childbirth. With an alarming prevalence in Haiti and Nigeria—1 case per 300 live births—it has emerged as a leading cause of maternal mortality in these countries.

World Telehealth Initiative's innovative new program in Port-au-Prince will build the skills of Haitian clinicians so they are better equipped to diagnose and care for patients with peripartum cardiomyopathy. Through our partnership with Global Med Ed Network, volunteer cardiologists from Yale School of Medicine will lend their expertise through remote consultations, patient data reviews, and mentoring local clinicians on cardiomyopathy treatment.

Through a heart ultrasound that seamlessly integrates with WTI’s telehealth device, remote healthcare providers can see and hear the patient’s heart while guiding on-site clinicians in mastering this new diagnostic tool.

The launch of this collaboration marks a new chapter in Haitian women's healthcare. Together with the Global Med Ed Network and Yale University, we are transcending borders, languages, and barriers to strengthen Haitian health systems and provide women with the care they need.