Haiti’s Resilient Quest: A Mosaic of Healthcare Challenges and Hope – Haiti

With the financial support of Canada’s Global Initiative for Vaccine Equity, UNICEF and partners have strengthened Haiti’s healthcare system by installing seven cold rooms in key health departments. A vital step for enhancing vaccine storage and coverage.

Jeremie, 13 February 2024 – In the heart of Haiti, lie stories of courage and determination in the face of healthcare adversities. The country’s rugged landscape, marred by disasters and political turmoil, mirrors the challenging journey of its inhabitants, especially when it comes to safeguarding the health of the youngest and most vulnerable.

In a quiet corner of the Saint-Antoine Hospital in Jérémie, Grand’Anse, Michelle, a young mother, waits patiently with her three-year-old son, Ken. Her journey of nearly an hour from a remote community speaks volumes of her determination. Ken is her pride, her joy. “Vaccination is of crucial importance to me. I travel many kilometres to vaccinate my child to protect him from potentially deadly diseases. I want to keep him healthy by providing him with an effective barrier against infections and other diseases” – she says, echoing the steadfast commitment of thousands of parents in the country, particularly those residing in rural regions.

As evening approaches, and after Ken receives his vaccine, Michelle prepares for the return journey. Her fatigue is overshadowed by the satisfaction of knowing her son is safeguarded against illness. “Where I live, I see unvaccinated children often falling ill. But mine, he’s healthy. Making a long journey is not a problem if I want to save my child’s life and keep him healthy. I will go home happy.” – she says with a tired smile.

The health system in Haiti, is grappling with logistical and infrastructural challenges. The multilayered humanitarian crisis the country is facing has disrupted the import of essential supplies and limited access to vaccines. This is why initiatives like the one UNICEF, with financial support from Canada’s Global Initiative for Vaccine Equity, carried on by installing cold rooms in seven departments of the country, including Grand’Anse, serves as a crucial lifeline. This initiative serves forty-nine health facilities in the department. “We receive at least thirty children every day because we collaborate with the maternity hospital, which sends us all the newborns for vaccination. The hospital gets its supplies from the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) storage depot in Grand’Anse, making our work easier’’ notes Miss Maeva, head of vaccination at St. Anthony’s Hospital.

This improvement is a major boost in the capacity of the health system. “Solar inversion cold storage significantly increases our vaccine storage capacity and improves vaccine preservation helping the region no longer suffer from stock-outs.” says Rémy Alexis, the stock manager in Grand’Anse.

Yet, the battle is not just against supply shortages.

The pervasive lack of awareness among parents about vaccine benefits poses a significant hurdle. As shown by Haiti’s backdrop of low COVID-19 vaccine uptake. By September 2022, the country had one of the lowest coverage rates globally, despite vaccine availability. Addressing this, community workers like Guerline, a dedicated member of a women’s organization in Nippes, in the south of Haiti, play a pivotal role. She spends hours daily, traversing communities to educate parents and facilitate vaccinations for their children. In addition, integrating the COVID-19 vaccine to routine immunizations opened up a crucial opportunity for her, to promote safety both for children and parents. It is a first-hand shot at tackling the reluctance towards this essential defense against the virus.

In the bustling rhythm of her day, Guerline encounters Jolene, a diligent mother of three who meticulously follows vaccination schedules for her children. Despite her best efforts, her youngest missed the polio vaccine at birth due to pressing circumstances. Guided by Guerline, Jolene navigates to the Petite Rivière health centre in Nippes for catch-up Polio and Tubercolosis vaccinations. Afterward, filled with relief and gratitude, Jolene asserts: “From now on, I commit to following my son’s vaccination schedule, thereby ensuring protection against a range of disease.”

Michelle, Jolene and Guerline represent just a fraction of the countless stories echoing across Haiti. The concerted efforts of UNICEF, supported by Canada’s Global Initiative for Vaccine Equity, and the Haitian Ministry of Public Health and Population, illuminate a path forward in these challenging times. Each vaccination, each informed parent, each mile travelled in the pursuit of health, is a testament to Haiti’s steadfast commitment to safeguarding its children, ensuring a protected and hopeful future for every child.