Sisters of St. Joseph
Port au Prince, Haiti

Haiti makes up the western one-third of the island of Hispaniola, shared with the Dominican Republic, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean. The country faces many difficulties including drug trafficking, violent crimes, electoral and political violence, efforts to politicize key institutions, gang-like activities, overwhelming poverty and the devastating growth of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Eighty percent of the population in Haiti lives in conditions of absolute poverty. Haitians earn an income of less than US$1 per day. The country is the only nation in the Americas to be classified in the "low human development" category of the United Nations Development Program's Human Development index, with a rank of 154th out a total of 177 countries worldwide.

Since 2004, Global Ministries has been in partnership with the Sisters of St. Joseph in Haiti.

Hospice St. Joseph was opened October 1, 1989.  Its mission is to provide an environment in which the presence of Jesus and his loving care can be experienced.

Hospice St. Joseph provides many services to the poor in Haiti.

• Medical care in the clinic, open Monday through Friday. The clinic provides medical consultation, medications, and lab tests at a nominal fee to patients. The clinic also provides milk supplements, food supplements, and nutritional education for families of children and nursing mothers who are malnourished.
• Service to persons who are ill, providing room, board, transportation to medical appointments, assistance in obtaining medical visas, and access to necessary advanced medical treatment or surgery in the U.S.
• The school sponsorship program matches elementary and high school children with sponsors. Donations received from sponsors include tuition, school supplies, and school uniforms.
• Guest house/hospitality services are provided for: medical groups heading out to work in the countryside, individuals seeking immersion experiences, peace and justice groups, missionary groups, and individuals who come seeking protection and shelter for a variety of reasons.

While the clinic continues to experience success, there are still many challenges. The need for medical care is overwhelming for patients in Haiti. Therefore, the needs always outweigh the resources that are available. Political instability has driven up the cost of living and has devalued the country's currency. Additional funding is needed for an emergency medical fund which would pay medial professional fees, purchase medical materials, and medications, pay hospital expenses and follow-up for patients needing surgery or hospitalization.