At George Washington University, Minister Sandra Paulemon Warns of Haiti’s Health and Social Emergency

Haitian Minister of Planning and External Cooperation Sandra Paulemon on Tuesday presented the Haitian government’s vision for rebuilding a resilient, sovereign health system at George Washington University, despite a dire security and humanitarian situation.

Speaking at the Institute for African Studies, Ms. Paulemon denounced the alarming situation of women and girls who are victims of sexual violence, exploitation and forced displacement by gangs, with no access to care or psychosocial support. She also spoke of the plight of young boys forcibly recruited and robbed of their future.

“Health financing is an essential tool for stability and social protection,” the minister stressed, noting that the government’s action — aligned with Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé’s priorities — aims to improve access to care for the most vulnerable. She underlined her ministry’s key role in coordinating national and international resources around the state’s priorities.

Recent disruptions in foreign aid have exposed the Haitian system’s chronic dependence.

To meet this challenge, the government is mobilizing its own resources to support basic services, protect survivors of violence and offer reintegration programs for young people.

“Making sure these lives are neither lost nor ignored is not just a national responsibility but a global commitment,” Ms. Paulemon concluded, calling for stronger alignment among partners to guarantee care, dignity and social justice for the Haitian people.