“President Michel Martelly held a working meeting Monday with a delegation from Ecuador focused on bilateral cooperation on the issue of disabled persons.

The two sides agreed on several “fundamental points,” according to a statement from Haiti’s National Palace, including the transfer of knowledge about a process of identifying and monitoring persons with disabilities.

Haiti’s disabled population, much of which is the result of the earthquake of January 2010, stands at around 800,000 people, according to recent estimates — nearly 9 percent of Haiti’s population.

The two countries agreed to an exchange of experiences on the issue of disabilities. Martelly said Ecuador’s experience in the area would be “beneficial” to Haiti in the areas of special education and inclusive education, among others.

Additionally discussed was the development of businesses related to disability, including the training of technicians in the repair and production of prosthetics and orthotics and the creation of workshops for prosthetics.

Haiti and Ecuador each agreed that Haiti needs an investigation into the prevalence of disability in its population, with proposals to contain the problem.”

(via Haiti’s Martelly Holds Working Meeting with Delegation from Ecuador)