On the morning of Friday, October 5, 2012 was held at the Foundation for Development and Supervision of the Haitian Family (FONDEFH) at Cite L’Eternel at Martissant, the launch of a health center and antiretroviral treatment (ARV). The services provided by this center are integrated into primary health care and are more comprehensive and more accessible to the population of Martissant.

U.S. Ambassador in Haiti, Pamela White stated that "since her return as Ambassador to Haiti, more than twenty years after working here with USAID, she was able to demonstrate that the commendable efforts have been done to make health care more accessible to the people despite all events that struck the country. " "The example of FONDEFH and many other health institutions who work tirelessly to improve and strengthen health care for the needy and vulnerable is an eloquent testimony," she said. "The U.S. government is pleased to join these efforts."

For decades, the U.S. government is working hard with the Haitian government and its partners to deliver better health conditions for the Haitian population. The United States helped provide antiretroviral treatment to more than 40,000 people, to provide a package of maternal and child health care and infectious diseases to about one third of the population through more than 200 health institutions. Thousands of health workers were trained and supervised.

The Government of the United States intends to continue to combine its resources with those of the Haitian government, NGOs, civil society and other donors, to help address the many challenges in health and enable more pregnant women in Haiti to give birth in health centers, a greater number of children to have access to basic services and more Haitians know their HIV status and access to antiretroviral treatment and TB and particularly the most vulnerable.

Ambassador White, who had previously visited the National School Carius Lhérisson of Fontamara 27 at the end of the ceremony, took the opportunity to meet the Director of the Community Association KOM with which she discussed the solar-powered street lamps installation in Martissant 1. She also visited a recycling center supported by OTI at Cite L’Eternel.

Ambassador White then went to Kay Jistis Martissant, a legal assistance NGO that USAID supports. She is pleased that this community initiative supported by the U.S. government can serve both beneficiaries and help decongest the courts of peace and the strengthening of community organizations of Martissant. "I want to reaffirm to the people of Martissant, and members of community organizations working in the area, the solidarity of the American people and the willingness of the U.S. Government to support the Haitian Government to allow Martissant continue to move towards stability and progress, "she said.

The project Kay Jistis Martissant aims to improve access of the population of Martissant to judicial services. Meanwhile it provides support to the Ministry of Justice for the establishment of an Office of Public Legal Assistance.

Ambassador White ended her tour by visiting the Police Station of Portail Léogâne.

HL/ HaitiLibre