A Commitment to Public Health Strengthened Under the Weight of Adversity

Shaken but not destroyed. That appears to be the general sentiment at Haiti’s Hôpital Universitaire de Mirebalais (HUM), following a harrowing armed attack during the early morning hours of September 26 last year that left the 350-bed teaching facility’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) riddled with bullets.  

Forcing approximately half of the hospital’s frightened patients, including those who were critically ill, to flee, the brutal act all but decimated the sense of safety once anticipated in spaces of neutrality in the country. Nurse Manager Ginette Fanfan, who was on duty in the NICU when an armed gang opened fire in her department, said the devastating event happened at a time of already increasing insecurity in Haiti, where pain and sadness are now typical of each day.  

Fortunately, no patients or hospital staff were injured in the attack. The incident, though deeply distressing, bolstered the staff’s resolve to continue providing essential medical services to those in need, undeterred by the daily challenges they face.    

“Despite the danger, I have no other choice,” Fanfan expressed in solitary with her colleagues at Zanmi Lasante (ZL), as Partners in Health is known in Haiti. “It's been my workstation that I love for more than 10 years now. I have a huge appreciation for HUM, working with patients in the community as a Midwife, helping to motivate, encouraging women to adopt a planning method for their well-being, coaching nurses, auxiliaries, nursing assistants on my team; that is my field. In addition, Haiti needs me, and I am always proud to remain working in my country.” 

Her statements echo that of ZL's interim executive director Marc Julmisse, who condemned the shooting as a breach of the principle of medical neutrality protected by International Humanitarian Law. "Despite this targeted attack on HUM,” she said in the aftermath, “Zanmi Lasante staff remain committed to providing lifesaving care for the people of Haiti.” 

Travelling by air to avoid dangerous public roads and relying heavily on resources, including hot meals and psychological support, provided by ZL to affected staff, Fanfan is motivated by the love of her profession, love for her patients, and hopes for the future to work even harder.  

“The scale of HUM, the size of the institution, etc., all this makes me comfortable to continue to provide care and supervise my crew,” she said. “Providing care, especially in Haiti, is a vocation. Despite the disaster that Haiti is experiencing, I believe in change.”