In a context marked by an unprecedented multidimensional crisis, Haiti is attempting to strengthen the foundations of its health system. This Wednesday, October 1, 2025, at the headquarters of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in Washington D.C., the Haitian Minister of Public Health, Dr. Bertrand Sinal, and the PAHO/WHO Director, Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, signed the very first Country Cooperation Strategy (CCS) 2026–2028.
This unprecedented agreement reflects a stated commitment to guarantee everyone the right to health, despite the political, security, and economic turbulences that are weakening the country.
Three Priorities for More Equitable Health
The adopted strategy is based on three main pillars:
- Strengthen national health capacities to ensure universal and equitable access to quality care.
- Accelerate the prevention and management of major public health problems, including communicable, chronic, and emerging diseases.
- Improve preparedness and response to health emergencies, through a NEXUS approach that links humanitarian aid, development, and peacebuilding.
According to the Minister of Public Health and Population, Dr. Bertrand Sinal, this roadmap represents a decisive step: « Despite the multiple crises our country is facing, the Government remains fully committed to protecting the health of our people, which will remain a national priority. It is at the heart of Haiti's dignity, stability, and development, » he affirmed.
A Legitimate Ambition, but Persistent Obstacles
Beyond speeches and signatures, the initiative raises many questions. Haitian public hospitals have suffered for years from a chronic lack of resources, a massive exodus of medical personnel, and an almost total dependence on international aid. In some departments, healthcare facilities are operating at a reduced pace, or are even closed, while health emergencies such as cholera, dengue, and trauma related to armed violence continue to accumulate.
Furthermore, the success of this strategy will depend closely on political stability and national security. How can such a program be implemented when several areas of the country still escape state control, and the population struggles to access even the most basic health centers?
A Partnership to Consolidate
PAHO/WHO, by choosing to commit more firmly alongside Haiti, nevertheless sends a strong signal: not to abandon the region's most fragile nation in its quest for a worthy health system. The strategy was developed participatively, involving not only authorities but also civil society and technical and financial partners.
It remains to be seen, however, if this commitment will be accompanied by sufficient resources to transform ambitions into tangible realities. For if the agreement reflects a political and symbolic will, it must translate into concrete actions: rehabilitation of infrastructure, improvement of medical staff working conditions, regular distribution of medicines, and establishment of sustainable financing mechanisms.
Hope and Skepticism
This signing undeniably marks a historic step in relations between Haiti and PAHO/WHO. But it cannot obscure the harsh reality: without profound reform and minimal stability, promises risk remaining unfulfilled.
In summary, the Country Cooperation Strategy 2026–2028 appears as a bold gamble: daring to believe that health can still be established as a pillar of Haiti's recovery. But to win this gamble, it will require much more than signatures: it will demand constant political will, collective mobilization, and above all, concrete results visible to the population.
