As the humanitarian crisis continues, PAHO sends almost three tons of essential medicines and health supplies to Haiti – PAHO/WHO

Port Príncipe, Haiti, April 2, 2025, (PAHO/WHO): As part of its commitment to address the prolonged humanitarian crisis in Haiti, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) sent a new shipment of almost three tons of medicines and essential health supplies of its strategic reserve in Panama, which arrived in the country today.

Shipping includes surgical care kits for patients with trauma, syringes, personal protection equipment for health workers, emergency medical backpacks and other general medical supplies necessary to meet urgent health needs. The Strategic Reserve also supported the Ministry of Public Health and Population of Haiti in the storage of the Laboratory Supplies Cold Chain and Surveillance Kits for COVID-19, influenza A/B, Dengue and HIV, which were included in the shipment.

Strategic collaboration with health authorities and Haitian humanitarian partners has allowed El Paho to continue supporting the most needy, particularly in the midst of difficulties to access international entry ports. As a result, the organization has been able to mobilize a total of 254 tons of medical supplies for Haiti since the beginning of 2024.

«The increase in violence, including blockages in ports and airports, has hindered the capacity of the health sector to provide humanitarian aid to the Haiti communities that need it most,» explained Dr. Oscar Barreneche, representative of PAHO/WHO in Haiti. «These humanitarian shipments coordinated by Paho have been a lifeguard to support the continuous delivery of emergency treatment and routine health services for Haitians,» he added.

This shipment was possible thanks to the close coordination of Paho with the Haiti Logistics Group, the United Nations Humanitarian Response Deposit in Panama and the World Food Program (PMA) as operational partners.

Amid the climbing of armed violence since September 2022, Pah has supported the Ministry of Public Health and Population of Haiti in the maintenance of essential health services. The situation is particularly severe in the Metropolitan Area of ​​Puerto Príncipe, where only 42% of health centers remain in full functioning. Another 16% is partially functional, and 42% have been forced to close completely, severely restricting access to medical care for millions of Haitians. Last year he also saw a dramatic acceleration in internal displacement, with more than one million people fleeing their homes, mainly in the metropolitan area of ​​Puerto Príncipe, many of them took refuge in sites for internal displaced people (IDP). This marks a triple increase in displacement within a year, increasing from 315,000 in December 2023, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

The lack of adequate medical resources has exacerbated the crisis, which leads to complex health challenges in IDP sites, where overcrowding, poor sanitation and limited access to medical care increase the risk of disease outbreaks.

Paho continues to work in close collaboration with the Haitian authorities and international organizations to ensure that medical assistance reaches those who need it more and ensuring that health professionals in Haiti can continue their mission of saving lives and improving the health of affected communities. efficient and effectively.