USAID Contribution to Health care in
Haiti (Review)
USAID focuses on building a public-private partnership to provide maternal and
pediatric care within the UCS located in the department of Grande- Anse, the
South and the Northeast. In addition, USAID delivers services through
non-governmental organizations (NGO) functioning across the country.
According to USAID and its 22
(NGO) partners their programs have benefited 2.3 millions individuals. They
report that in localities where their programs were implemented the
contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) is twice the national average, that measles
coverage reaches 65.5% compared to the national rate of 46%, and oral
re-hydratation solution is available to 66.3% of children with diarrhea.
Moreover, in one of these programs where Title 11 food Aid Resources has been an
integrated health intervention, chronic malnutrition declined to 30%.
In the fight against AIDS,
USAID has adopted a three-prong approach:
-
Syndromic, management of STDs,
a well known risk factor for HIV
-
Promotion of disease
prevention and distribution of condoms.
-
Conservative management of
AIDS cases.
Discussions
The approach toward improving the healthcare system in Haiti has been:
-
To prioritize the different
problems
-
Make an objective account of
the resources available
-
Establish a timetable for the
implementation of a sensible agenda
This approach, which is half a
century old, has not produced significant results despite some readjustments
made along the way in response to temporary political crises and acute problems
such as natural disasters or the HIV epidemic. Aside their monetary assistance
to the Haitian economy, the Haitian diaspora has not significantly contributed
to the Haitian health care system, in spite of vast amount of human resources
available. In fact, more Haitian health professionals are practicing outside
their country. Some of them hold important leadership positions in the academic
field, in governmental administrations and international agencies. However there
is no structured program aimed at using their skills and contact.
The most recent initiative spearheaded by the Haitian government rather
emphasized the creation of regional linkages between Haiti and other Caribbean
countries.
EH/RO
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