Rotary clubs have worked on projects in Haiti

Longtime Brainerd Noon Rotary Club member Hanspeter Borgwarth said the Haiti hospital that collapsed Tuesday was not the 50-bed hospital the two Brainerd Rotary clubs helped build with the help of Dr. Paul Severson and members of the Crosby medical community.

The hospital with the Brainerd area connection is in Pignon, Haiti, on the opposite side of a mountain range from Petionville, where severe damage was reported. Borgwarth estimated the distance between the two cities was about 200 kilometers but travel is difficult because of the mountains.

"Distance-wise it's not far but if you want to drive it it's a day-and-a-half," he said.

The Brainerd Noon Rotary Club and the Brainerd Morning Rotary Club also built 31 shelter homes in Pignon, Borgwarth said.