In any society where the State prioritizes the health of its population, health is not just a right, but the very existence of a people. A population that is not healthy means that the entire country is unwell.
We say that the health of the population is more than a right, as authorities violently trample the rights of their citizens. These violations are due to multiple reasons, whether for personal gain or in the interest of their close ones. If we accept that the health of a population is essential to the very existence of the country, just as no leader would accept their own non-existence, this could change the game. Moreover, if the right to health does not effectively exist in Haiti, it can be concluded that the Haitian State categorically denies the existence of its people.
Let us consider health in its noblest sense. It is a sine qua non condition that enables a person to fully realize themselves, to work, to earn a living, to take care of their family, to serve their country, to make important decisions, and to lead the State well without mental alteration, thanks to their health well-being. The reverse is equally true. When the population is healthy, the country thrives. When leaders are sick, the entire country suffers and descends into chaos. For when the physical body is afflicted with disease, the spirit is automatically tarnished by the ailing body, and the ability to think and produce is altered.
Why does the health of the population remain a dream for the country? The reality is to witness daily the non-existence of hospitals. All public hospitals are stripped, vandalized, and plundered by armed gangs. This is the sad reality we live in. At the same time, there is an anarchic construction of private clinics without state support, in total disregard for the standards established by the Ministry of Public Health and Population (MSPP). Today, the health of the population is so devalued that it is enough to have the means to pay for an apartment with a few extra rooms to convert it into a hospital center offering all specialties, without meeting the legal standards to accommodate patients.
What is the position of the Haitian State in the face of this phenomenon of destruction of public hospitals in favor of private homes that are transforming into true hospital centers to treat the population at exorbitant prices? Just as the phenomenon of betting offices at every intersection is popping up like weeds, these apartment-hospitals are emerging, most of which are equipped with materials stolen from public hospitals. The population continues to dream of seeing a State that finally decides to take its constitutional responsibilities. As long as there is no state awareness and a public health policy that elevates health to a national priority, nothing will change.
On the other side, health professionals operate outside legal norms due to the absence of framework laws governing the ethics of the profession. This painful reality continues to devastate us and decimates families without the slightest compensation. Our health professionals are left to their own devices and continue to practice without fear. Negligence and clumsiness in professional practice constitute another alarming reality. When a doctor commits negligence that results in a patient's death, no one can question the motives for the death or demand a detailed report.
In Haiti, the health reality of the population is high-risk, and the authorities do not measure the level of danger. The borders are left open to the smuggling of dangerous medicines that invade the Haitian market without state control. Unfortunately, in their ignorance, the population worsens their health condition by taking banned medications from neighboring markets, specially manufactured for the Haitian population, contributing to its extermination due to the absence of the State. And what is distressing, in the 21st century, is that there are no forensic doctors in Haiti. The only so-called one no longer resides in the country, and when present on the territory, due to lack of financial resources and adequate equipment, they become ineffective. A fact that attests to the degree of irresponsibility of our leaders.
However, article 19 of the 1987 Constitution in force states that "The State has the imperative obligation to guarantee the right to life, health, and respect for human dignity to all citizens without distinction." Unfortunately, in Haiti, there are no citizens, otherwise this famous article would be applicable. In the encyclopedia of Haitian authorities, the notion of citizen is defined as those who are at the helm of affairs, those who hold political power, who easily access state funds and can take a ticket to go get treated abroad. This observation has allowed us to understand the level of cynicism of our politicians.
Can we continue to dream of a new Haiti with these same apathetic politicians who care little for the well-being of their people? We should simply stop dreaming, in every department of the country, of constructing modern hospitals equipped with two forensic doctors per department, with health professionals adhering to ethical standards as in all developed countries. We must believe that the reality experienced by the Haitian population for over a century must change, and that our future leaders awaken from their endless dream to understand the reality of the moment and transform this situation of chronic malaise into a situation of happiness and well-being for the benefit of the Haitian population.
Long live Haiti, long live Haitian health!
Master Joseph Rénald JOSSELIN
Social Rights Lawyer
Josephrenald74@gmail.com
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