As violence continues to escalate in Haiti, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is calling for urgent protection of medical facilities and services. Armed groups targeting health centers are straining the country’s already fragile health system, which is experiencing severe challenges in accessing essential medical care.

In December, the Bernard Mevs Hospital in Port-au-Prince was partially destroyed https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-43869-haiti-flash-gangs-set-fire-to-bernard-mevs-hospital-considerable-damage-video.html , further exacerbating the already limited capacity of health services.

"The attack on Bernard Mevs Hospital is a tragic blow to Haiti’s already fragile health system. I am deeply concerned by the escalation of violence and stand in solidarity with Haiti’s health community," said PAHO Director Dr. Jarbas Barbosa. "It is essential to protect health facilities, patients, health workers, equipment and medical activities."

Prior to this, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), a key humanitarian partner, had suspended its operations in the capital for three weeks https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-43839-haiti-health-medecins-sans-frontieres-partially-resumes-its-activities-in-port-au-prince.html . The last public hospital in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area capable of handling a massive wave of casualties, Hôpital Universitaire La Paix, is operating under immense pressure as it struggles to manage a growing number of patients in an unstable environment https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-43636-haiti-flash-nearly-500-increase-in-gunshot-wounds-in-4-days.html .

Amid the violence, PAHO is working closely with the Ministry of Public Health and Population (MSPP) and other humanitarian partners to provide support. In 2024, PAHO delivered more than 38 tons of essential medicines and medical supplies to support the continuity of services in operational health facilities and facilitated the mobilization of the Ministry’s mobile clinics, which provided more than 9,000 consultations in IDP sites.

PAHO has been instrumental in supporting the La Paix University Hospital, enabling the hospital to treat more than 21,000 patients free of charge in its emergency departments since the beginning of 2024. The essential medicines and equipment provided by PAHO have also enabled the hospital to provide free care to vulnerable populations, including pregnant women and displaced persons. This support has also enabled the hospital and other supported health facilities to perform cesarean sections at a lower cost, ensuring essential care for those in need.

PAHO continues to support Haiti’s health infrastructure by providing essential medicines, training health workers, and facilitating the continued operation of essential health services, particularly in the most affected areas.

PAHO’s response operations are made possible through collaborations with partners such as the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), the German Foreign Office, the European Union, and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

HL/ HaitiLibre