Above: an outer region of Haiti’s Port-au-Prince (Photo: KC)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

The foundation of US designer Kenneth Cole has opened the Kenneth Cole Haiti Health Centre at St Mary’s Hospital in the Port-au-Prince neighbourhood of Cite Soleil.

The project, which will include disease prevention, treatment and health education, was funded through in-store and web donations.

“We’re excited to announce the opening of the Kenneth Cole Haiti Health Centre, which is intended to provide necessary disease prevention, education and treatment to this population in need,” Cole said in a statement. “The courage, strength and capacity of the Haitian people is limitless. Our hope and intention is that the centre will empower them with the tools necessary to build a healthier and stronger community.”

Haiti’s St Mary’s Hospital is part of a tripartite medical system in partnership with St Damien’s and St Luke’s hospitals, also in Haiti.

Cole also announced a retail programme encouraging customers to continue to donate to the centre.