Surrounded By Instability, Care Continues at PIH Hospital in Haiti

Babies are born, injuries are treated as patients brave gang violence to reach facility

Posted on Mar 30, 2023

Dr. Marc Werens stands in the ER in the Hopital Universitaire de Mirebalais (HUM) in Haiti.
Dr. Marc Werens, an emergency medicine physician, stands in the ER at Hôpital Universitaire de Mirebalais (HUM) in Haiti. All photos by Nadia Todres for PIH

While gang violence and insecurity continue across many parts of Haiti, behind the doors of select hospitals and clinics, life goes on: Babies are born, wounds are tended, chronic illness is treated.

At facilities run by Zanmi Lasante [ZL], as Partners In Health is known in Haiti, teams have had to adjust to the kidnappings, fuel shortages, and general uncertainty through safety precautions such as shifting hours and schedules, relocating staff and patients, and restricting some facilities to basic triage. To avoid risky travel on dangerous roads, some staff have gone months without seeing family to stay closer to work. At certain sites, conversations between patients and doctors are interrupted by gunfire. Still, care continues.

Despite a situation described by one doctor as “practicing war medicine,” and, essentially, the worst violence the ZL team has seen in four decades, these medical professionals remain at work, tending to the sick, offering care, and accompanying their patients. Indeed, this is what solidarity looks like. This is ekip solid--a strong team.

Noel Hermitha, 38 years old, from Port-au-Prince gives birth via a C-section, her second child. Hopital Universitaire de Mirebalais (HUM) in Mirebalais, Haiti, on March 23, 2023. Photos by Nadia Todres for PIH.
Zanmi Lasante physicians delivered Noel Hermitha's second child (above) via C-section. The 38-year-old mother arrived from Port-au-Prince for the birth at Hôpital Universitaire de Mirebalais (HUM), a 45-minute drive on a good day. 

 

Margarette St. Fort (mother with newborn baby), 31 years old. This is her 3rd child. She walked from Thomonde to Mirebalais to give birth. She is recovering in the post-partum department. Hopital Universitaire de Mirebalais (HUM) in Mirebalais, Haiti, on March 23, 2023. Photos by Nadia Todres for PIH.
Margarette St. Fort, 31, recovers in HUM's postpartum department with her newborn. This is her third child. She walked from Thomonde to Mirebalais to give birth. 

 

Dr. Obed-Edson Lamy. Orelus Odnel, 44 years old, having fluid removed from his lungs by Dr. Lamy...Hopital Universitaire de Mirebalais (HUM) in Mirebalais, Haiti, on March 24, 2023.
Orelus Odnel, 44, has fluid removed from his lungs due to complications from pneumonia, by Dr. Obed-Edson Lamy (center), an emergency medicine second-year resident, at HUM. 

 
A 51-year-old woman from Port-au-Prince has an operation to remove her gallbladder.
HUM clinicians work together to remove the gallbladder of a 51-year-old woman from Port-au-Prince.


 
HUM..Hopital Universitaire de Mirebalais (HUM) in Mirebalais, Haiti, on March 24, 2023.
A view of the second floor hallway at Hôpital Universitaire de Mirebalais.
 
Marianne Melissa  being checked on by a clinician. She was hit by a tap trap in Beladaire. She is from Carrefour and was brought by ambulance to Mirebalais from Beladaire.
Rebecca Saint-Louis, an emergency medicine first year resident, examines Marianne Melissa, who was hit by a tap tap--a large vehicle used for public transportation--in Belladère and was brought by ambulance to Mirebalais.

 

The ER at HUM. Morning rounds with clinicans, led by Dr. Cassandra Edmond...Hopital Universitaire de Mirebalais (HUM) in Mirebalais, Haiti, on March 24, 2023. Photos by Nadia Todres for PIH. Dark grey : Nurse Herline Dorlis Light  Grey : Nurse Bertide Louis Jeune Red shirt : Nadège Descartes. Nurse assistant.  The ER at HUM. Morning rounds with clinicans, led by Dr. Cassandra Edmond...Hopital Universitaire de Mirebalais (HUM) in Mirebalais, Haiti, on March 24, 2023. Photos by Nadia Todres for PIH.
Nurse Herline Dorlis (from left), Nurse Assistant Nadège Descartes, and Nurse Bertide Louis Jeune prepare for morning rounds in HUM's emergency department. 
Dr. Paul Farmer sharing a friendly moment with one of his staff.

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