Clinique et Pharmacie Bethesda

Cayes-Jacmel, Haiti

Sometimes blessings show up in the face of tragedy, and in the wake of one of Haiti’s worst natural disasters, a light was born.

A 7.0-magnitude earthquake left the country in ruins in 2010. People were living in poverty, many lacking the basic necessities of life, including health and shelter. The Lord put on Dr. Erol Pierre Rene’s heart a spirit of compassion and mission to help his own.

“I am a person who loves God and my neighbors very much,” Erol said. “I decided to study medicine not to have privilege, glory and money, but because of the vocation to serve, particularly those who do not have access to a doctor. Here in Haiti, unfortunately, health is considered a business that most people who are poor cannot access.”

Today, Erol’s ministry assists the southern coastal region of Cayes-Jacmel. He works especially closely with those in rural and marginalized communities, taking action to combat diseases and poverty. Mobile clinics give people access to health, sanitation and clean drinking water. Erol has also been active in training health promoters.

He remodeled a building and opened a new clinic in Cayes-Jamel in 2025.

Community evangelism teams go out three times per month to share the Word of God in homes. The ministry also works closely with area churches.

Name: Association Saint-Luc d'Haîti

Location: Cayes-Jacmel, Haiti

Director: Dr. Erol Rene

Partnership: 2010-present

Staff: 11

PMT: Mark and Melissa Kauk; Gary and Laura Malenke; Dr. Mark and Nancy Turek.

About the ministry

About Haiti

Population: 11.2 million

Size: 48,670 sq. km, or about twice the size of New Hampshire.

Capital: Port-au-Prince

Borders: Caribbean Sea to the west and south; Atlantic Ocean to the north; Dominican Republic to the east.

Religious groups: Protestant, 51.8%; Roman Catholic, 35.4%.

Primary language: French and Creole

Literacy (age 15+): 61.7% 

Physician density: 0.23 doctors per 1,000 people.

Population below international poverty line: 58.5%

Life expectancy: 65.6 years

Infant mortality rate: 41.3 deaths per 1,000 live births.

Major exports: Apparel, oils, cocoa, mangoes, coffee.

Climate: Tropical; semiarid where mountains cut off east trade winds.

Terrain: Mostly rough and mountainous.