Haiti Launches Steering Committee for Future National Cancer Treatment Institute

The Transitional Presidential Council officially installed, this Wednesday, December 10, 2025, at Villa d’Accueil, the steering committee responsible for implementing the project to create the National Cancer Treatment Institute. The health infrastructure will be established in the city of Les Cayes, in the South of the country. The ceremony took place in the presence of several government members, including the Minister of Economy and Finance, Alfred Fils Métellus, the Minister of Public Health and Population, Sinal Bertrand, as well as the Minister for Women's Affairs and Women's Rights, Pédrica Saint-Jean. A project presented as an act of national dignity Led by the head of the "Health" initiative within the Transitional Presidential Council, this project is the dream of a doctor who witnessed the suffering of women cancer victims in the country. In his address, Presidential Advisor Louis Gérald Gilles emphasized that the creation of a national institute dedicated to the fight against cancer constitutes "a struggle for the dignity of the people." He praised the commitment of his fellow Presidential Advisors, notably that of architect-urban planner Leslie Voltaire, whom he described as a constant supporter of this strategic project. Dr. Gilles also thanked the Minister of Economy, Alfred Fils Métellus, for including a budget line dedicated to funding the project in the 2025-2026 fiscal year. Leslie Voltaire hails a historic advance For his part, Presidential Advisor Leslie Voltaire expressed his satisfaction at seeing the Transitional Presidential Council take this decisive step. He recalled that cancer constitutes « yon danje ki toujou fè popilasyon an kriye », insisting on the need to provide the country with a modern, equipped, and sustainable structure for patient care. He thanked the members of the committee who accepted to take on this heavy and strategic mission, while announcing a forthcoming acceleration of the work. The official stated that he relies on the continuous support of national and international partners. The composition of the steering committee The installed committee is composed of nine members :

1. Leslie Voltaire, Presidential Advisor – Honorary President
2. Louis Gérald Gilles, Presidential Advisor – Honorary Member
3. Dr. Claude Surena – General Coordinator
4. Dr. Jean Ronald Cornely – Technical Coordinator
5. Dr. Pierre Sonson Prince – Surgeon
6. Junior Pierre – Nuclear Physicist
7. Dr. Alexis Vilaime Joseph – Representative of the MSPP
8. Dr. Ted Lazarre – Representative of the MSPP
9. Azad Belfleur – Liaison between the IAEA and the MAE

A major undertaking for the Haitian health system The National Cancer Treatment Institute, whose construction is planned in Les Cayes, is presented as one of the most ambitious health initiatives of the transition. It aims to improve prevention, screening, specialized care, and access to modern treatment technologies, a field where Haiti faces a critical delay. The Editorial Staff