The international NGO "Project Hope" announces at the occasion of World Health Day [this April 7, 2012], that it will launch an innovative book to educate communities and promote the right of the disabled in Haiti. "This book, entitled 'Rehabilitation Medicine: Healing Body and Spirit" has for objective to continue teach communities how to better understand and accept people with disabilities, explained Jason Friesen, Project HOPE’s Country Representative in Haiti.

The innovative bilingual, Creole and French, book was created by HOPE with the support of Johnson and Johnson and an array of local partners. The book is adapted to limited literacy in Haiti, using both an audio track and printed text. Colorfully illustrated and tells the story of Pauline, a woman who confronts a challenging rehabilitation journey after her leg was pinned under a car during on January 12, 2010. The story, written by Paula Clermont Pean, tracks Pauline’s struggles with depression after her leg was amputated to save her life, and the difficult process of learning to function as a disabled person.

"We hope the character's journey from victim to a fully functioning, productive, disabled member of society will serve as an inspiration to disabled readers and hopefully prompt them to seek services for themselves and others, and to improve the public's understanding of disabilities in general," said Mr. Friesen. Friesen believes the book’s message, that rehabilitation can mend the body and the spirit and that all Haitians have the right to be productive and live free from discrimination, will resonate with many Haitians who are still struggling to build healthy, successful lives.

HOPE is working with Haiti's National Office for Persons with Disabilities and other NGOs to ensure wide distribution of the book, which is to be launched next month and distributed for free to over 5,000 people.

HL/ HaitiLibre