Awards:
- Award Dr Leon Audain pour la FHADIMAC (Highest Medical award in Haiti) 1997
- Award from Novo Nordisk for service to people with Diabetes in Haiti 2000
- Award from Aruba Diabetes Association to Professor Charles for a life dedicated to Diabetes 2002
- Prestigious award Philipp Sherlock: March 2003 by UDOP Comity (Jamaica) for exceptional services to Diabetes in Haiti and the Caribbean
- Award Honor and Merit by Lyon's Club de Delmas, November 2004, for services to Haiti in Diabetes and prestigious model to young generation
- Award for Professional Excellence from Rotary International for its 100th year celebration 2005
- Award from IDF at Dubaï for outstanding work in time of crisis 2011
- November 13, 2014: Honor and Merit from Internal Medicine Association to Dr Renee Charles for his Humanitarian work in Haiti
- November 14, 2014: Highest award from the Haitian Government
- Dlife champions from USA November 2015 for their outstanding work in Diabetes
- Award from IDF at Lisbon, Portugal "Centenary of Insulin" among 52 associations
Accomplishments:
1. FHADIMAC CELEBRATES ITS 30TH ANNIVERSARY
On December 7th, 2022, FHADIMAC received the only award given by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) at its International Congress in Lisbon, Portugal.
1. FHADIMAC CELEBRATES ITS 30TH ANNIVERSARY
On March 30, 2017, FHADIMAC celebrated its 30 years of service to the Haitian population. Over 200,000 people were screened for diabetes and hypertension. Over 7,000 active members.
FHADIMAC has always been and will continue to be a beacon of hope for the most vulnerable in Haitian society.
2. WORLD DIABETES DAY (NOVEMBER 14th)
November 14th is World Diabetes Day, a day to celebrate and raise awareness about diabetes. FHADIMAC is one of the many organizations that come together on this eventful day to raise awareness, screen thousands of individuals for diabetes and high blood pressure, and show the Haitian population that, if dealt with at the earliest stage, YES diabetes can be prevented!
Activities implemented during this program throughout Haiti include:
- the deployment of mobile clinics to reach vulnerable and isolated areas where medical care is scarce
- the screening of thousands of individuals for diabetes and high blood pressure
- awareness-raising and educational sessions for the mass population on the importance of proper nutrition and healthy living.
- the organization of event fairs attracting over a thousand participants
3. DR. RENE CHARLES AWARDED THE NATIONAL ORDER OF HONOR AND MERIT WITH THE RANK OF GRAND-CROSS SILVER PLAQUE BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF HAITI
Port-au-Prince
Friday, November 14, 2014
The President of the Republic, His Excellency Michel Joseph Martelly, awarded the National Order of Honor and Merit with the Rank of Grand-Cross Silver Plaque, to Dr. René Charles, President of the Haitian Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease Foundation (FHADIMAC), at the National Palace this Friday, November 14th. The Head of State, in the presence of FHADIMAC members and Dr. Charles’ family, wanted, by this distinction, to honor the exceptional work of this great leader who has practically devoted his professional career to the care of diabetes patients and the consequences of this chronic disease.
"It is a way for the Haitian State to show you the gratitude of the community that has benefited from your services, your teachings, your wisdom," said the President to Dr. Charles. He also stated that he would like to present Dr. Charles’ journey as President of FHADIMAC as an example to Haitians, so that the youth can be inspired to participate in the construction of the new Haiti.
The Minister of Public Health and Population, Dr. Florence Duperval Guillaume, did not hide her satisfaction with the work led by Dr. Charles in the fight against diabetes that affects approximately 300,000 Haitians today. "We must encourage all those who help to counteract diabetes," she said, referring in particular to the Haitian Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease Foundation (FHADIMAC), which has greatly helped people affected by diabetes and hypertension to better live with their condition.
For his part, Dr. René Charles expressed not only his joy in receiving this distinction from President Martelly, but also for not sparing his efforts in reaching out to people affected by diabetes. The President of FHADIMAC took the opportunity to greet his close colleagues whose efforts are invaluable. He also appealed to the humanity of all Haitians to help all of those in need, because, he concluded, it is time to make way for a civilization of love.
Founding member of the Haitian Diabetes Association (AHD) in 1987, which became the Haitian Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease Foundation (FHADIMAC) in 1993, which he has chaired for many years, Dr. René Charles is one of the icons of medicine in Haiti and a great figure in the fight against diabetes in the Caribbean.
4. FHADIMAC AT UNITED NATIONS SUMMIT
The Haitian Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease Foundation (FHADIMAC) has announced that a delegation of the organization took part in the first United Nations Summit on the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and chronic respiratory disease), held in New York from September 19-20, 2011.
During this Summit, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a Political Declaration (A/66/L.1) in which Member States recognize "that these diseases constitute one of the main challenges for development in the 21st century". This is the second time the United Nations has come together to discuss a health issue. The first instance took place in 2001 and was related to HIV/AIDS.
The Haitian Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease Foundation (FHADIMAC) has been advocating for more than 20 years to place diabetes and cardiovascular disease on the Haiti’s health priority list so that these conditions receive the attention they deserve since the current situation is alarming.
Hypertension affects nearly one in two people over the age of 20 in Haiti, which means that there are more than 2 million hypertensives and stroke is one of the leading causes of death in the country.
Diabetes affects about 7% of people over the age of 20, which corresponds to 300,000 diabetics. Diabetes lower limb amputations are performed at one to two per week in some hospitals, and more than 20% of diabetic patients have eye damage and 3% are blind. Diabetes is still one of the leading causes of kidney failure requiring dialysis. One in two children admitted to the hospital with diabetic coma dies either because the diagnosis is made too late, because the necessary drugs are unavailable, or because the cost of treatment exceeds the economic capabilities of the parents. As a member of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), FHADIMAC supported the declaration and advocated at the highest levels of the country. With this goal in mind, FHADIMAC had meetings with the First Lady of Haiti, Mrs. Sophia Martelly, the Ministry of Public Health and PAHO/WHO representatives to plan Haiti’s representation at the United Nations Summit. Two FHADIMAC Board members, Dr. Philippe Larco (Vice-President) and Dr. Nancy Charles Larco (Project Coordinator) traveled to New York from September 16-21, 2011 thanks to PAHO/WHO’s financial support. FHADIMAC participated in the September 17th workshop organized by the NCD Alliance and also at the Alliance's Central Park events on September 18th.
FHADIMAC members joined the Haitian delegation on the evening of September 18th for a working meeting on noncommunicable diseases. At the CARICOM luncheon on September 19th, all CARICOM Heads of State/Governments pledged to combat NCDs, which are an impediment to economic development. During his speech, President Michel Martelly promised to make noncommunicable diseases a priority of his new government and added that "we can fight NCDs through education, a good health system and prevention." President Martelly also met Dr. Mirta Roses Periago (Director, PAHO), Professor Jean-Claude Mbanya (President, IDF), and Mr. Mapoko Ilondo (World Diabetes Foundation) during this lunch-debate. He thanked the latter two for the asistance bestowed to FHADIMAC in favor of diabetics and hypertensives in the aftermath of the earthquake.
On September 19th, Dr. Philippe Larco and Dr. Gabriel Thimothé (Director General, Ministry of Public Health and Population) participated in the high-level meeting on chronic diseases which was opened with a speech by President of the 66th session of the General Assembly, Mr. Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser of Qatar.
2010 Earthquake:
On Tuesday January 12, 2010 at 4:53 pm an earthquake of magnitude 7.3 destroyed more than 80% of the city of Port-au-Prince, capital of Haiti. More than one week later, the number of people dead was more than 200,000, 250,000 people wounded and more than 1,500,000 homeless. Many Diabetes associations across the world had expressed their sympathies and offered their help to FHADIMAC. The board of IDF (International Diabetes Federation) and the one of IFL (Insulin for Life) played a key role in mobilizing solidarity and in starting a fund from other associations. FHADIMAC knowing her duty open her doors and offered free services to anybody for 6 months, January to July 2010: more than 1,500 persons seen in 6,000 visits.
FHADIMAC diabetes voice journal Juillet 2012.pdf
Medecine des Maladies Metaboliques Fevrier 2011.pdf
5. FHADIMAC receives the award of the International Diabetes Federation- December 2022
The “Fondation Haitienne de Diabète et de Maladies Cardio-Vasculaires” (FHADIMAC) received the only award given by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) at its International Congress in Lisbon, Portugal in December 2022. Among the 52 countries that presented a valid and inspiring initiative, FHADIMAC was chosen for its determination to improve the lives of people living with diabetes in Haiti. The jury was particularly impressed to see the quality and amount of work carried out by FHADIMAC’s team in the difficult circumstances that Haiti is going through and with very limited resources. The initiative presented by FHADIMAC was the work they did in the departments of Nippes and Grande-Anse after the earthquake of August 14, 2021 that struck southern Haiti.
FHADIMAC is a Haitian non-profit foundation with 35 years of experience. It is recognized as being of public utility. In 2010, it signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Public Health and Population (MSPP) of Haiti in order to provide them with technical support in the management of chronic diseases (diabetes and hypertension).
FHADIMAC carries out many activities at its premises, located at 208 Lalue in Port-au-Prince: Screening, daily educational sessions, medical clinics, foot clinic; eye, cardiovascular, kidney assessments; training for health professionals; specialized care (diabetes, psychological support) for young people with Type 1 Diabetes and educational camp for the youth...
The initiative presented by FHADIMAC at the congress of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) consisted of visits to the south of Haiti following the magnitude 7.2 earthquake and tropical storm Grace that hit the Grand South of Haiti. As a result, FHADIMAC put together a program to help the vulnerable population of these affected areas.
The objective was to provide access to adequate care for the vulnerable population of people affected by Diabetes and Arterial Hypertension in the localities mentioned who could not travel, nor had the means to pay for medical care.
The services offered were as follow: awareness, screening for diabetes and high blood pressure, medical clinics, distribution of drugs and supplies, education of patients and their parents and training of medical personnel.
The whole FHADIMAC team was in action:
- Young leaders speaking on radio and megaphone to raise awareness.
- Social workers carrying out screenings
- Nurses educating patients and taking care of drug distribution
- Physicians doing clinical assessment and making recommendations to patients and providing training for medical personnel.
More than 2,000 people have benefited from this initiative.
Access to medical services and insulin is essential for these vulnerable populations. We must do our best to help people with diabetes access services and medicines regardless of their social status or they will develop debilitating complications.
The prize for the "Centenary of Insulin" was presented on December 7, 2022 at the International Congress of the International Diabetes Federation in Lisbon, Portugal in the presence of all the dignitaries of the world of Diabetes.
It should be noted that in December 2011, FHADIMAC had been decorated by the IDF for the work it had provided in Port-au-Prince (Haiti) after the earthquake of December 12, 2010 where nearly 250,000 people died.
FHADIMAC takes this opportunity to thank all those who have supported it in recent years despite the difficult times that Haiti has experienced. FHADIMAC appeals to all those interested in the cause of Diabetes to enable it to continue “to help those affected by Diabetes and Cardiovascular Diseases to live better with their conditions. »