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The consolidation of gains made by PALIH (Projet d'Appui à la Lutte Contre les IST/VIH-sida en Haïti) was the central theme being discussed at the final review workshop held in Port-au-Prince on April 13–15, 2011. Over the past eight years the project has enabled the development of an effective system for dealing with healthcare issues in the Artibonite department, and could potentially benefit many more Haitians.

PALIH, lead by a Canadian consortium composed of the Centre de Coopération Internationale en Santé et Développement (CCISD) and CECI, was funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). Its primary goal was to sustainably reduce the transmission rate of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and HIV/AIDS in Haiti, particularly in the Artibonite Department. In the second phase (2006–2010), the focus was on growing and strengthening the capacities of local facilities. Efforts were also made to facilitate communication between those working at different levels of the healthcare system, and to improve access to regional prevention services. Developed in close collaboration with the Ministère de la Santé Publique et de la Population (MSPP) and with the Direction Départementale Sanitaire de l’Artibonite (DDSA), the project was able to meet its objectives by involving the Unités Communales de Santé (UCS)¹, as well as numerous other partners.

“PALIH was not there to take the place of the ministries or the local authorities.”
—Dr. Dieula Louissaint, Artibonite regional health director

In the field, the project managed to elicit the participation of more than 30 partners, and thousands of people actively collaborated on the development and implementation of activities led by the MSPP. More than half the population of Artibonite—approximately one million people—have benefited from PALIH’s work. The impact is particularly pronounced in the case of its public awareness and educational initiatives, and with the implementation of services for high-risk clients. Health facilities have generally improved and seven UCSs are now functional and staffed with qualified personnel. With PALIH’s help, over the course of the past few months the UCSs have already mobilized to deal with the cholera epidemic. “It has enabled us to avoid the catastrophe in Artibonite,” testifies Alex Larsen, minister of public health.

"It is a model for healthcare system improvement,” said Guypsy Michel, regional director of the CECI in Haiti, “The institutional support approach has meant real state commitment to developing a community health system.” All the institutional representatives, community organizations, and technical and financial partners gathered at the event unanimously recognized the importance of taking the project further: “There is a real consensus on the relevance of the approach and the success we have already seen,” said project leader Angèle Aubin.

“What we did with PALIH in Artibonite could be replicated elsewhere in Haiti,” affirms Dr. Dieula Louissaint, Artibonite regional health director. “There needs to be a follow-up to the project that involves those who are most in touch with the daily reality of the Haitian people,” says Guypsy Michel, adding that “it is important to develop appropriate partnerships with the municipalities and the ministries responsible for social affairs.” Martine Bernier, PALIH coordinator, advises that the resources available to the principal partners need to be shared at the national level.

¹ UCSs are the ministry of health agencies that coordinate local health services and facilities.