On Tuesday, the National Society of the Haitian Red Cross laid the foundation stone for the reconstruction of the National Center for Blood Transfusion (CNTS) of the Haitian Red Cross (CRH), which was destroyed during the 2010 earthquake.

This new infrastructure, which will include a medical laboratory for specialized analyzes, is currently funded by the American Red Cross for close to $5 million and meets an urgent need for the installation of new physical facilities and equipment to ensure a regular supply of blood products to the Haitian population by the CRH.

The ceremony was held at the headquarters of the National Society in Maïs-Gaté which will house the new building. Present for the occasion, alongside the Secretary General of the Federation, Mr Elhadj As Sy, Gthe eneral Councilor of the American Red Cross, David Meltzer, welcomed the commitment of the American Red Cross Sister Society to strengthening the Haitian Red Cross's work and capacity, particularly in the health sector where the organization has already invested $73 million over the 7 years following the earthquake in 2010 to strengthen Haiti's public health system to prevent disease and improve access to quality medical services.

In his speech, Dr Guiteau Jean-Pierre, President of the National Society of the Haitian Red Cross, took the opportunity to thank the various partners involved in the implementation of the project, in particular the American Red Cross and the Secretary General Of the Federation who made the trip to testify to the commitment of the movement alongside the Haitian Red Cross.

Note that this construction project also benefits from the additional financial contribution of other partners of the Red Cross movement including the Belgian, Japanese and Spanish Red Cross and the Italian Red Cross.

HL/ TB/ HaitiLibre