April 14 Public Health Forum: Supporting Health Systems in Northern Haiti
Join Nathan Nickerson, RN, DrPH, as he presents the talk “Outside the Epicenter: Supporting Health Systems in Northern Haiti” at the BUSPH Public Health Forum on April 14 at noon in L-112.
Nickerson is executive director of Konbit Sante Cap-Haitien Health Partnership, a Maine-based volunteer partnership that aims to save lives and improve health care in northern Haiti. Rather than developing a second, parallel health system, Konbit Sante works with the Haitian Ministry of Health and with Haitian colleagues to build capacity within the public system for Haitians to care for Haitians.
Nickerson’s talk will cover Konbit Sante’s historical capacity-building partnership with the public health care system in the Northern Department of Haiti. He will also focus on the importance of their partnership as Konbit Sante assists in responding to the many challenges confronting the country after January’s earthquake, covering the NGO’s immediate response to the earthquake and its short- and long-term goals.
“While there were close to 3 million people in the area affected by the earthquake, there are 7 million people in the remainder of the country who rely on fragile systems of care that need to continue,” Nickerson said. “There are also displaced people, including large numbers who are seriously injured, moving within the country in search of support.”
Konbit Sante has a small staff in the United States and supports 28 Haitian doctors, nurses, health workers, and administrators to support its work in Haiti. A group of highly skilled volunteers work in the US and Haiti to develop programs, teach, collect and deliver equipment and supplies, and make infrastructure improvements.
Nickerson was previously director of public health for the city of Portland, Maine, where he oversaw services related to infectious diseases, health care for the poor and homeless, health care for children and families, and health promotion services. He has bachelor of science degrees from Tufts and University of Southern Maine as well as a master’s degree in nursing from Simmons College. In 2007, he received his doctorate in international public heath from BUSPH. Nickerson is a founding director of Konbit Sante and has special interests in infectious diseases, public health, and community outreach
The BUSPH Public Health Forum is a regular series presented by the School of Public Health. It is free and open to the public.
BUSPH Public Health Forum
“Outside the Epicenter: Supporting Health Systems in Northern Haiti”
Presented by Nathan Nickerson, RN, DrPH, executive director of Konbit Sante
Date: April 14, 2010
Time: 12 – 1 p.m.
Location: BUSM Instructional Building, Room L-112
Contact: Kasey Oliver, kloliver@bu.edu