PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — In a renewed effort to stabilize Haiti’s deteriorating health system, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has delivered nearly three tonnes of critical medicines and health supplies to Port-au-Prince, reinforcing ongoing humanitarian support in the region.
The shipment, dispatched from PAHO’s Strategic Reserve in Panama, includes a wide range of urgent supplies: trauma kits for surgical care, syringes, personal protective equipment for frontline workers, emergency medical backpacks, and general health materials designed to respond to Haiti’s immediate medical needs.
Additionally, PAHO provided resources to bolster the Haitian Ministry of Public Health and Population’s ability to safely store and manage essential lab supplies. These include diagnostic kits for COVID-19, influenza, dengue, and HIV surveillance, ensuring the country’s monitoring capabilities remain intact despite mounting challenges.
“The logistics of delivering humanitarian assistance have become increasingly complex,” noted Dr. Oscar Barrenech, PAHO/WHO Representative in Haiti. “Widespread violence, port blockades, and restricted access have severely strained the country’s healthcare infrastructure. Yet, through determined partnerships, we have sustained our ability to support Haiti’s most vulnerable communities.”
Since early 2024, PAHO has coordinated the delivery of more than 250 tonnes of medical aid to Haiti, a remarkable feat amid ongoing turmoil. This latest mission was made possible through collaboration with the Haiti Logistics Cluster, the UN Humanitarian Response Depot in Panama, and the World Food Programme (WFP).
The health situation in Haiti remains dire. Recent reports indicate that only 42 percent of health facilities across the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area are still fully operational. Another 16 percent function at limited capacity, while 42 percent have closed completely, leaving millions without reliable access to essential health services.
Compounding the crisis is the surging number of internally displaced persons (IDPs). According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), over one million Haitians have been uprooted from their homes — a threefold increase compared to figures from December 2023.
In overcrowded IDP shelters, limited medical access, poor sanitation, and unsafe living conditions are heightening the risk of disease outbreaks, intensifying the humanitarian emergency.
PAHO affirmed its continued commitment to working hand-in-hand with Haitian authorities and international partners to deliver medical supplies, strengthen healthcare delivery, and uphold the resilience of health workers in the country.
“Our work in Haiti is far from over,” PAHO emphasized. “We remain focused on ensuring that lifesaving health services reach every corner of the country, no matter the obstacles.”
