Haiti's Future

Vision Statement

            The Hospital Ship Hope 2 Foundation is a Florida non-profit corporation formed with two primary humanitarian missions in mind.  The first is to provide free medical, vision, and dental care to the poor and underprivileged in emerging growth countries from mobile operating bases, namely ocean-going vessels outfitted as mobile hospital clinics.  The second mission is to also use these vessels as first responder platforms to provide on-scene emergency disaster assistance and equipment to areas of the world that have suffered from a natural disaster.

            We have already acquired our first vessel in our proposed fleet, a 180-foot ex-U.S. Coast Guard cutter, the USCGC Hornbeam.  Originally commissioned in 1944 and modernized in 1977 under a Ship Life Extension Program (SLEP), the Hornbeam served the U.S. Coast Guard well for close to six decades as a highly versatile vessel performing a multitude of diverse tasks such as tending Aids to Navigation (ATON), conducting Search and Rescue (SAR) operations, towing, carrying cargo, escorting convoys, fighting fires, conducting weather patrols, and limited icebreaking.  This versatility of the Hornbeam along with its shallow draft (<14 feet) and impressive range (>17,000 miles without refueling) will also serve us well as we renovate her to be a mobile hospital with the latest in medical, surgical, dental, and optical equipment onboard.  In short, after the hospital refit we expect the Hornbeam to be will be one of the finest and most flexible non-government hospital, first-responder and medical training ships in the Western Hemisphere.

            Our plan is to staff our vessels with volunteer physicians, nurses, dentists, optometrists, and other health care professionals.  Along with the satisfaction of helping those less fortunate, another major benefit to the participating doctors, nurses, and medical technicians is the hands-on experience gained by treating diseases and maladies unique to outlying or tropical areas.  In addition, we envision offering accredited Continuing Medical Education (CME) classes to help hone our participant’s medical skills while on this worthwhile, non-denominational, non-political, humanitarian-aid “sabbatical”.

 Proposed onboard services include:

• General health care

• Inoculations to prevent disease

• General surgery

• Reconstructive surgery

• Orthopedic rehabilitation (braces)

• Pre-natal and well-baby care

• Dental care and education

• Vision care

•  Public health education

• Ancillary services
  

Proposed onboard facilities include: 

• General health care clinic

• Well-baby clinic

• OB/GYN clinic

• Dental clinic

• Eye clinic

• Pharmacy

• Hospital ward

• Operating theater

• Recovery room

• X-ray and CAT scan facilities

• Limited lab facilities