The Haitian American Kidney Association, Inc. is a 501©3, non-profit membership organization, established in 2014. William D. Isaacson, Ph.D. brought the idea of creating an organ that would enable Haitian victims of kidney disease to receive dialysis to Louis J. Auguste, MD. Dr. Auguste concurred with the concept and accepted the position as Co-Founder and Chair of the Board of Trustees. He has guided Dr. Isaacson, who in addition to bearing the permanent title as Founder, became the first President and Chief Operating Officer of the corporation.
MISSION
It is the mission of the Haitian American Kidney Association (HAKA) to establish memberships, partnerships, sponsors, and scholarships for the purpose of funding state of the art medical treatment, prevention information, materials and equipment to ensure consistent quality healthcare to those who suffer from renal disease and urinary tract infection in underserved areas of the Republic of Haiti.
VISION
The ultimate aim of the Haitian American Kidney Association is the eradication of kidney disease in the Republic of Haiti.
VALUES
With the treatment of renal and urological diseased patients as its primary target, and the prevention of these diseases through education as its secondary goal, supported by teams of professional nephrologists, nurses, dialysis technicians, and chemists, the Haitian American Kidney Association seeks to develop an awareness of these diseases and the proper treatment thereof in Haiti, through the establishment of fundraising activities underwritten by interested donors, corporations and grantors.
Currently, HAKA is comprised of interested members in New York, Florida, Illinois, Montréal, and Haiti. Additionally, HAKA is seeking to augment its membership on the West Coast of the United States and Paris, France where there is a large concentration of Haitians. This is also true of Georgia, New Jersey and Connecticut where HAKA is seeking to increase its membership rolls.
HAKA fosters awareness and commitment to providing the latest treatment techniques on a sustained basis to Haitians afflicted with kidney disease and urinary tract infections. Through our support of the North Miami Adult Education Training Center, HAKA promotes the teaching of operating dialysis equipment to students who have the option of returning to Haiti to render service there. To encourage its students to take advantage of this program, HAKA will establish scholarships that bind applicants to serve in Haiti for a specific amount of time. While raising the level of nursing care for victims of renal disease, HAKA will simultaneously promote its program of educating Haitians against the spread of kidney disease and urinary tract infections. Equally important is HAKA’s involvement in the procurement of a grant to benefit the dialysis capabilities of the Saint Francois Hospital in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. In the long run, HAKA will treat patients in need of peritoneal dialysis via drones that will distribute medical equipment and instructions to victims of renal disease in remote areas. At the present time, HAKA is in communication with the Rotarians of Haiti, who have promised to establish a HAKA community center in Port au Prince. At this center, HAKA will provide health screenings, blood pressure readings, diabetic screenings, immunization drives and educational programs directed at the reduction of HIV/AIDS, obesity.
In children, colorectal cancer prevention, women’s health and aging information as well as other health concerns such as nutrition, sleep disorders, and damage to the body from smoking.
In connection with this ambitious program, when the Rotarian Center is erected, HAKA will work in collaboration with other health I Haiti and in the United States, as well as local community centers, churches and societies that are committed to help eliminate kidney disease and urinary tract infections among Haitians and Haitians Americans.
HAKA will undertake such fundraising activity’s necessary to effectuate networking, media education, International medical missions, immunization and toy drives, continuing education for nurses, and research and nursing scholarships with detailed follow-up and reports.
While the official address of the Haitian American Kidney Association is Post office Box 1435 in Valley Stream, New York 11582-1435, HAKA will eventually seek to establish chapter mailing addresses in each state in which activities occur as well as in Haiti, Canada and France. Such national and international presence lends itself to greater grant, donor and sponsor advantages.