Overview:
Haiti has been elected to the WHO Govt Board for the primary time, becoming a member of world well being leaders because the nation battles worsening well being challenges, together with gang-related hospital shutdowns, illness dangers, and the disruption of worldwide help packages.
PORT-AU-PRINCE — Haiti was elected on the Govt Board of the World Well being Group (WHO) for the primary time within the nation’s historical past, a milestone Well being Minister Bertrand Sinal known as each a privilege and a accountability.
The election passed off throughout the 157th session of the WHO Govt Board on Could 28 and 29 in Geneva. Out of the WHO’s 194 member states, solely 34 serve on the Govt Board at a time. The board is tasked with implementing the choices of the World Well being Meeting and providing strategic path to the group.
Sinal mentioned the nation could be “a dedicated voice” in shaping world well being coverage, emphasizing that the seat represents greater than symbolic progress.
Haiti’s time period on the Govt Board is anticipated to run for 3 years. Throughout that point, Sinal mentioned, the nation will work to highlight points affecting weak populations throughout the International South.
The election comes at a time when Haiti is grappling with mounting public well being crises which have overwhelmed its already fragile healthcare infrastructure.
A number of main hospitals have been compelled to shut, unable to securely function in areas now managed by armed gangs. Mounting concern surrounds some displacement camps in Port-au-Prince, the place two youngsters confirmed signs of power diarrhea on Could 12—elevating fears of a possible cholera resurgence. In April, 4 suspected circumstances had already been rushed to Hôpital La Paix, which was unable to supply enough care, prompting emergency transfers to a Medical doctors With out Borders (MSF) facility in Delmas 33.
“Serving on the Govt Board for the primary time is rather more than a privilege—it’s a dedication to world well being.”
Bertrand Sinal, Well being Minister
Compounding the scenario, the suspension of U.S. authorities funding by the U.S. Company for Worldwide Growth (USAID) has disrupted entry to life-saving HIV remedy. Haiti has lengthy relied on worldwide help to keep up its HIV/AIDS infrastructure, with almost 80% of associated providers funded by donors. Due to broad entry to antiretrovirals (ARVs), Haiti had achieved a nationwide HIV prevalence fee of two%, among the many lowest within the Caribbean. Well being specialists now warn that progress might backslide with out speedy intervention.
On the Geneva convention, Sinal welcomed the WHO’s 2026–2027 price range and emphasised the necessity for long-term financing for weak nations like Haiti. Member states additionally adopted a world settlement on pandemic preparedness and pledged to extend monetary help for the group.
“We’re dedicated to constructing a system that’s extra resilient, extra equitable, and, above all, nearer to the true wants of our populations, notably probably the most weak,” Sinal mentioned.
“Serving on the WHO Govt Board for the primary time is rather more than a privilege for us—it’s a dedication to actively take part within the main choices that form world well being,” he mentioned.
The information of Haiti on the Govt Board has been well-received by organizations working within the well being sector. Jeunesse Combattante (JECO), an advocacy group working for dietary well being, believes this shall be a possibility for the nation to realize extra consideration on this subject and for Haiti-related well being points to be higher addressed.
“We’re effectively conscious of the various issues in dietary well being, particularly the truth that youngsters proceed to die from malnutrition,” Jean Berquinze Augustin, president of JECO, advised The Haitian Occasions.
“Haiti will be capable to profit from higher help and steerage from the worldwide neighborhood within the well being sector, because the nation is amongst these concerned within the decision-making course of,” Augustin added.