PAHO sends critical medicines and health emergency supplies to Haiti amid ongoing humanitarian crisis – PAHO/WHO

Washington, DC, February 21, 2025 – As part of their continuous and intensified efforts to address the acute health needs of Haitians in the midst of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the country, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) sent 7.7 tons of critical medicines and health supplies From his regional strategic reserve in Panama in Panama to Haiti this week.

Access to medical care services in Haiti remains extremely limited due to growing violence, with only 10% of health centers throughout the country throughout the country. During the past year, the growing insecurity and instability have interrupted the supply chain and impacted the availability of essential medicines and health supplies necessary to maintain the operations of public health facilities. Ports and airport operations have also been affected by what leads to important challenges for international suppliers and partners who wish to send vital supplies, including vaccines, to Haiti.

To address this, the PAHO coordinated an emergency shipment of 17 medical supplies orders, including temperature-sensitive items, refrigerated and frozen, which reached Port-Au-Prince, Haiti, on February 20, 2025.

The articles sent include a wide range of essential medicines to support emergency care, surgical procedures, maternal and neonatal health, and the management of non -communicable chronic diseases. In addition, antibiotics, antipalúdico treatments and several critical vaccines, including polio, rage, pneumococci and rotavirus, were sent to help recover vaccination rates in the country. The vaccination coverage in Haiti has decreased in all vaccines due to the deterioration of the safety situation in 2024, which has severely interrupted immunization efforts. The recently delivered supplies will help to replace vaccine stocks and support current efforts to reach unvaccinated children and mitigate the risk of preventable disease outbreaks due to vaccines. Shipping also included laboratory supplies to support and improve disease surveillance in a continuous cholera transmission context.

«The shortage of medicines in Haiti severely affects the capacity of health centers to remain operational.» Dr. Oscar Barreneche, Paho/who represented Haiti said. «These supplies will help us respond to the acute demand for essential medicines and medical supplies and support the continuous provision of medical care that saves lives to Haitian communities that need health assistance.»

PAHO’s emergency response efforts were possible thanks to the generous vaccine donation of the Brazilian Cooperation Agency (ABC) and the support and operational coordination with the Haiti logistics group, the United Nations Humanitarian Response Deposit (Hinhrd) and the United Nations World Food Program. (WFP).

The PAHO is still committed to support Haiti at this time of extreme need and continues to work tirelessly with health authorities, medical care providers and their humanitarian health partners to guarantee the timely and safe delivery of health assistance that save lives that save lives .