For months after the catastrophic earthquake that shook Haiti to its core on January 13, 2009, this was a headline that pervaded newspapers worldwide. Of the 250,000 individuals who were injured that day, over 100,000 of them were amputee victims.
Now, let's take a break for a minute and consider the thoughts that immediately come to mind when an American thinks "amputee." Perhaps one thinks of faithful soldiers injured in battle, small children learning to walk on their new limb that resulted from cancer, or images of strong men and women finishing track races faster than those with two legs. Thankfully, these are common situations in our country for those who have lost limbs.
The Haitian culture, however, has an entirely different view of those who have lost limbs. "You don't exist in Haiti if you are an amputee," said one Haitian man a few days after the quake. This man was not the only one to struggle with the effects of his injury. "People are going to think I'm a freak. I wanted to be an electrical engineer. How will I ever get a job now," were the words of another amputee.
Though the predicament of these thousands of Haitians isn't a seemingly potent case of ethnoviolence, these amputees do face ridicule, embarrassment, and often abuse or neglect because of their condition. So, my questions are 'what is the root of the negative view of amputees in Haiti?' 'Has the government taken any action on behalf of amputees?' 'Does the government or culture instill in its people that you are only useful in society if you are considered a "whole" and healthy person?'
While the issue of the Haitian government is an entirely different can of worms (of which I am not fully qualified to discuss), after two visits to Haiti last year I know that government does nothing to ensure the betterment of these individuals. Though it is not the sole responsibility of the government to change the view of its citizens, it should promote and protect well being of and a positive outlook on the condition of more than 2% of it's nation's population.
As an amputee myself, I couldn't believe the shame that amputees in Haiti often feel. When I went to Haiti last year, I was introduced to a ministry called 3 Cords- a small business initiative started by Mission of Hope, a Christian nonprofit organization. Since the earthquake, 3 Cords has employed Haitian amputee women who make sewn goods to sell for the mission trip groups that come to Mission of Hope. This business has now expanded to the U.S. and through it, amputee women are empowered in society and are able to make money for their families- something that amputees never experienced in Haiti before the earthquake's devastation.
Though the 3 Cords ministry is rapidly expanding and slowly (but surely) changing the outlook many Haitians have on amputees, there is much work to be done. It is my hope that soon, the heart warming amputee images that we as Americans often think of will be shared by the men, women, and children in Haiti, and that Haitians will share a perception of hope and a future for these individuals.
For more information on Haiti and amputees after the earthquake click here: http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1964441,00.html
To see the 3 Cords ministry and the inspiring work that these women are now doing visit: http://www.3cordshaiti.com/
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