Statement of Problems

According to the Haitian government's statistics, the possibility of childhood education prior to the age of 15 is virtually non-existent. The earliest opportunity for most children to become educated cannot happen until they reach the age of 15 - hence, most Haitian children are illiterate.

Malnutrition

A national survey in 1978 showed that 77 percent of children in Haiti were malnourished. Anemia was also a common problem among children and women in Haiti. Malnutrition is a special problem in infants and young children, often causing mental retardation. Infant and child health were poor. The infant mortality rate was 124 per 1,000 live births in 1983.

A recent survey from the United Nations between 1995-2000 shows that only 14% of the Haitian population (8,270,000) have access to health, 62% are undernourished, and 80% of the population are living below the poverty level.