This project provided advice and technical assistance to improve the governance of Haiti’s health sector. It focuses on: (i) strengthening the regulatory role of the Ministry of Public Health and Population (MSPP); (ii) developing a shared vision of the health sector among stakeholders; and (iii) strengthening the effectiveness of Canada’s aid to Haiti’s health sector.
Results achieved as of March 2012 include: The project supported the development of a new Health Policy, improved the collection of health information, enabled the mapping of all health institutions in the ten provinces of the country, and improved the collection of health information. The maps provide basic data on the type of institution and the type of health services offered. With these tools, the Ministry of Health is better able to plan, set priorities, take into account the health needs of the population, and respond to crises such as the cholera outbreak. The project supported five central directorates of the Ministry of Public Health and three provincial health directorates (North-East, South-East and Nippes). It strengthened the Ministry’s overall leadership in all health sector coordination mechanisms, enabling the Ministry to better take on its role as regulator of the health system. The project also supported the implementation of the National Plan for the Fight against Gender-Based Violence. An international conference on this issue was organized successfully by the Haitian government and its civil society partners, with 250 national and international participants. Coordination for the fight against gender-based violence was also strengthened at the local level. For example, 30 religious leaders and 90 community outreach workers were trained, and public awareness campaigns were conducted in the Nippes region. This helped to promote equal access to rights and to health for women and men. These results have contributed to strengthening the Ministry of Health’s leadership role in steering the health system.
