At the initiative of the mayor of Port-au-Prince, the only public retirement homes of the capital, known for 91 years under the name of communal asylum (asile communal), intended for elderly, is undergoing rehabilitation and modernization.

This building located in the street Saint Martin, at the Bel-Air neighborhood, currently hosts 65 seniors, including 29 men. But the living conditions of these residents have deteriorated since 2010. The asylum had been occupied by homeless people, victims of the earthquake.

According to Fritz Dufresne, the administrator of this institution "The electrical system was not working, sanitary facilities either [...] the lack of hygiene in the camp, the cohabitation between the displaced and the elderly, the bad use of the toilet, have created an unhealthy environment that may cause and spread of infectious diseases such as cholera..."

With this renovation, the administrator hope to see the cleanliness, hygiene and comfort restored to provide better living conditions to the beneficiaries of this retirement home. This renovation, in addition to the rehabilitation of the building, will allow to modernize it by adding the elements necessary for the improvement of living conditions."

This work, which began in early July, will last three months and are funded by the Minustah to the tune of 100,000 U.S. dollars through the quick impact projects (QIPs). Supervised by the Civil Affairs section, they will create jobs for at least 15 workers per day, says a source of the Minustah.

HL/ SL/ HaitiLibre