Without easy access to medical care, far too many children in Haiti suffer from easily preventable illnesses: chronic coughs, rashes, headaches, stomach and intestinal issues, to name just a few. As a result, kids needlessly suffer and often do poorly in school due to a lack of energy and an inability to concentrate.

For these reasons The Children’s Academy has a Wellness Space and a five member Wellness Team. The Wellness Space is equipped with one bed, medicine, and other care resources, and always has at least one wellness staff member available. Two wellness staff members work full-time in the Special Needs classroom, which serves twelve students. Three of these students experience regular seizures. All twelve require specialized care. One child is blind and another is nonverbal. Another wellness staff member rotates as needed, helping in classrooms, the schoolyard, or the Wellness Space. The fifth Wellness Team member focuses on nutrition which includes helping prepare meals, herbal tea, green smoothies, etc. In emergencies such as broken bones or severe illness, Wellness Team members accompany parents to take students to a clinic.

Regular check-ups supplemented by periodic visits from a General Practitioner help students feel better physically and emotionally, enabling them to work towards their full potential. The Wellness Team has seen over 300 students so far this school year.