December 22, 2024
The Minister of Public Health and Population, Dr. Duckenson Bléma Lorthé, announced this Tuesday on Radio Télévision Caraïbes that the Haitian State University Hospital (Hôpital Universitaire d’État d’Haïti, HUEH) will reopen its doors before December 25, 2024. Emphasizing his resolve, he stated: “I’m not here to put on a show, but to act.” This announcement comes amidst a crisis marked by ongoing violence in the capital.
This decision follows the reopening of the Isaïe Jeanty and Léon Audain maternity hospital, commonly known as Chancerelles, on Monday, December 2, 2024. The facility had been closed for about nine months due to gang violence. A ceremony marking the reopening was attended by technical and financial partners, including ALIMA, and members of civil society. The event was hailed as a significant milestone reflecting the minister’s commitment to improving healthcare access for Haiti’s most vulnerable populations.
HUEH, closed for months despite a brief restoration of control by the Haitian National Police last July, remains a symbol of the deteriorating living conditions in Port-au-Prince. Armed conflicts near the hospital had delayed its reopening, even after a visit from former Prime Minister Garry Conille and Councillor-President Louis Gérald Gilles. The newly announced reopening represents a crucial step toward addressing the growing healthcare needs in the country.
In a context where over 700,000 people have been displaced and 4,544 deaths have been recorded this year due to gang violence, reopening critical healthcare infrastructure like HUEH offers a glimmer of hope for the population. By focusing on tangible actions, the minister reaffirms his commitment to revitalizing a healthcare system weakened by insecurity.