EVALUATION OF THE HAITIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY HELP ORGANIZATION : PHASE II

A SURVEY INDICATES THAT ALMOST 80 PERCENT OF AREA RESIDENTS HAVE RECEIVED IMPORTANT BENEFITS FROM PROJECTS UNDERTAKEN BY THE HACHO SERVICES. HACHO DEVOTES MORE RESOURCES TO THE MEDICAL SERVICE THAN TO ANY OTHER. WHILE THE AREA HAS BENEFITED GREATLY FROM THESE SERVICES, THEY COULD BE MADE MORE EFFICIENT. THE MEDICAL FACILIITES, THE OUTPATIENT FACILITIES, THE INPATIENT HOSPITAL SERVICES, AND THE DENTAL FACILITES ARE INADEQUATELY USED. WHILE THE NUTRITION CENTERS DO A GOOD JOB OF FEEDING NOURISHING MEALS TO THE CHILDREN ENROLLED, MANY PROBLEMS EXIST. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SERVICES ARE HACHO'S BROADEST ACTIVITY. THEY INCLUDE CONSTRUCTION OF POTABLE WATER SYSTEMS, ROAD CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE, AND COMMUNITY COUNCILS. THE ROADS HAVE LINKED THE AREA TO THE REST OF THE NATION AND HAVE STIMULATED THE GROWTH OF REGIONAL MARKETS. THEY ARE FUNDAMENTAL TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF THE REGION. HACHO IS CURRENTLY WORKING WITH 129 COMMUNITY COUNCILS. HACHO FIELD WORKERS BELIEVE THAT ABOUT 80 PERCENT OF THEM ARE WORKING EFFECTIVELY OR AT LEAST ACCEPTABLY. THE DIRECT IMPACT OF HACHO ON AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY HAS BEEN SLIGHT. A SURVEY INDICATES THAT, EXCLUSIVE OF FOOD COMMODITY PAYMENTS, ONLY 2.0 PERCENT HAVE BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY BENEFITED BY HACHO'S AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES. THE MAJOR IMPEDIMENT TO A SUCCESSFUL AGRICULTURAL PROGRAM IS THE LACK OF A WELL-DEFINED AND JUSTIFIED AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN. THE EVALUATORS MADE 36 RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT MEDICAL SERVICES, ROAD CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE, AGRICULTURE, AND COMMUNITY COUNCILS. THEY BELIEVE HACHO SHOULD BE RETAINED AS AN AUTONOMOUS REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION, BUT THAT ITS PRIORITIES SHOULD BE REORDERED AND THE ORGANIZATION RESTRUCTURED.