Above: solar panels at Mirebalais’ new hospital (Photo: PIH)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Haiti’s Mirebalais recently was the site of a visit by officers from the United States Embassy in Haiti, highlighted by a trip to the soon-to-be-completed Mirebalais National Teaching Hospital.

The city has seen rapid population growth in the two years since the devastating earthquake in Haiti in January 2010.

The new hospital is a joint project between Partners in Health and its sister organization in Haiti, Zanmi Lasante.

The hospital, which completed its first phase in April, will be powered in large part by solar energy. It is slated for completion this year.

Embassy officials also held meetings with local and regional officials in the city, according to a release from the Embassy’s Web site.

Mirebalais is also the close to the site of the Peligre hydro power plant, which is being refurbished by French firm Alstom-Comelex.

The French firm signed a three-year, $48.8 million contract with the Haitian government in February.

In late 2011, the Inter-American Development Bank approved a $20 million grant to complete and supplement financing of the plant’s refurbishment.

The US’ presence in Haiti is led by Ambassador Kenneth Merten.

Note: an earlier version of this article incorrectly called Paul Altidor the US’ ambassador to Haiti. Mr Altidor is the Haitian ambassador to the United States.