Our mission
The CLIDEP clinic was founded by a Haitian neurologist at the Ste-Justine Hospital in Montreal, Professor Lionel Carmant. Dr. Carmant had a dream of giving the people of Haiti suffering from neurological disorders the chance to live happy and healthy lives. He dreamed of helping a community in need and of giving a boost to the current shaky health system in this country.
CLIDEP's primary mission is to prevent neurological diseases, to make accurate diagnosis of these disorders, and finally to propose treatment plans through medication and rehabilitation in occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech therapy. CLIDEP is Dr. Carmant's dream come true but it needs you! |
Direct care for the populationCLIDEP's permanent clinic is located at Port-au-Prince and sees over 4,000 active patients, including numerous low income families.
In order to cover a larger part of Haiti and reach of people in need, another clinic was establised in Jacmel; this clinic in the north treats another 400 patients. An additional project is currently in development, the construction of a permanent and independent clinic in Petit Goave. Finally, in 2012, a van was offered by the Ville-Marie Rotary Club; our mobile clinic allows care to be provided in as many regions of Haiti as possible. |
Promoting local activity
CLIDEP isn't simply providing international aid to a population in need: we also strive to promote the local economy. To ensure continuity of care and to empower the clinic, CLIDEP gives the opportunity to physicians, technicians and other specialists to come acquire basic training in epilepsy and neurology at our clinic in Port-au-Prince. |
Encouraging student exchangesIn order to complete its team of caregivers, CLIDEP also offers the possibility to medical students in Quebec to be a part of this amazing project.
This year, two Montreal medical students went to visit the clinic (by their own means) to learn the basics about the practice of neurology in Haiti. They worked with Haitian medical students at the clinic and were able to share their respective experience. |
CLIDEP's history
CLIDEP was founded in 2008 after the World Health Organization's published the demand to fill the gaps in mental health care, "which includes epilepsy as a priority mental health and neurological condition" (notion A68 / 12 # 16).
Seeing the growing demand in Haiti, CLIDEP was created by three doctors: Dr Lionel Carmant (co-chair of the International League against Epilepsy at the time), Dr Moshe Solomon (co-chair of the International League against Epilepsy at the time) and Dr Alix Elias (neurosurgeon at Port-au-Prince).
Thanks to a $ 6,000 donation from the ILAE (International League against Epilepsy) and the donation of an EEG machine by the Canadian Company Stellate Instruments, CLIDEP was ready to help patients in Port-au-Prince in 2008.
It did not take long for patients to come to Port-au-Prince where functioning diagnostic material was available. In the first year, over 400 patients were diagnosed and treated at the CLIDEP clinic.
Several doctors from abroad took turns visiting the clinic in order to ensure the clinic was running smoothly and in order to train the Haitian physicians, in hopes of the clinic eventually being independent of foreign doctors.
In 2010, Dr. Lionel Carmant (co-founder of CLIDEP) received the award for social commitment by the Faculty of Medicine for his unwavering commitment to the cause of health in Haiti.
In 2011, he was the recipient of the International Ambassador for Epilepsy Award awarded by the International League against Epilepsy.
Today, CLIDEP continues its international activities by organizing training sessions and many partnerships with universities. We are establishing additional permanent and autonomous clinics in rural Haiti and physicians, specialists and medical students travel twice a year to continue the clinic's growth and to provide further training to the staff in Haiti.
Over 5,000 patients are currently followed and treated by the various CLIDEP clinics in Haiti.
Seeing the growing demand in Haiti, CLIDEP was created by three doctors: Dr Lionel Carmant (co-chair of the International League against Epilepsy at the time), Dr Moshe Solomon (co-chair of the International League against Epilepsy at the time) and Dr Alix Elias (neurosurgeon at Port-au-Prince).
Thanks to a $ 6,000 donation from the ILAE (International League against Epilepsy) and the donation of an EEG machine by the Canadian Company Stellate Instruments, CLIDEP was ready to help patients in Port-au-Prince in 2008.
It did not take long for patients to come to Port-au-Prince where functioning diagnostic material was available. In the first year, over 400 patients were diagnosed and treated at the CLIDEP clinic.
Several doctors from abroad took turns visiting the clinic in order to ensure the clinic was running smoothly and in order to train the Haitian physicians, in hopes of the clinic eventually being independent of foreign doctors.
In 2010, Dr. Lionel Carmant (co-founder of CLIDEP) received the award for social commitment by the Faculty of Medicine for his unwavering commitment to the cause of health in Haiti.
In 2011, he was the recipient of the International Ambassador for Epilepsy Award awarded by the International League against Epilepsy.
Today, CLIDEP continues its international activities by organizing training sessions and many partnerships with universities. We are establishing additional permanent and autonomous clinics in rural Haiti and physicians, specialists and medical students travel twice a year to continue the clinic's growth and to provide further training to the staff in Haiti.
Over 5,000 patients are currently followed and treated by the various CLIDEP clinics in Haiti.