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Laura Kuipers’ first trip to the rural village of Terre Blanche, Haiti was a learning experience.  The remote area lies in the mountains north of Port-au-Prince and is predominantly occupied by subsistence farmers.  There is no running water, and travel is primarily by donkey and a small motor scooter known as a Tok Tok. 

Haiti shares the island of Hispanola with the Dominican Republic.  The island was discovered by Columbus on Dec 5, 1492.  Formerly a slave country, Haiti’s history has long been marred by public distrust of a corrupt government.  In February 2009, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake hit near the city of Port-au-Prince.  According to the NGO World Vision, an estimated 250,000 people died and at least 300,000 people were injured.  Five million people were displaced and nearly 4,000 schools were damaged or destroyed.  At the time of the quake, 70 percent of the population lived below the poverty line.  Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.

The Haiti Foundation of Hope is a Christian organization addressing the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the people in the impoverished and underserved rural communities of northern Haiti.  Dr. Kuipers has travelled to Terre Blanche for 2 weeks in each of the last 10 years to volunteer in the medical Clinic of Hope.  As an Internist accustomed to treating adults, she quickly became involved in delivering babies, treating children, and providing a wide range of medical care to the area residents.  The Clinic of Hope is open year around and staffed by Haitians.  Recently, the Clinic expanded to provide community health programs and, in 2011, held its first medical conference where local healthcare workers can learn and share their expertise.


Dr. Laura Kuipers, DO is an internist/hospitalist in Portland affiliated with Providence Portland Medical Center, Providence Milwaukie Hospital, and Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center.   She graduated from Western University College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific.