Frustration is mounting in Haiti as gang violence spreads beyond Port-au-Prince, deepening an already severe health emergency.
In the capital and neighboring regions, armed groups have shut key roads and set up checkpoints, leaving hospitals isolated and disrupting ambulance routes. Patients in critical condition are facing delays or being turned away as medical teams navigate security threats.
Clinics in several provinces have temporarily closed their doors after staff received violent threats, forcing thousands to forgo routine checkups, vaccinations and prenatal care. For residents like Marie, a pregnant mother in northern Haiti, the nearest functioning maternity ward is now more than 50 kilometers away.
“I couldn’t find a safe way to the hospital,” she says. “I had to rely on family to help me at home.”
Local health authorities warn that the breakdown in services risks outbreaks of preventable diseases and could reverse recent gains in maternal and child health. International aid agencies report supply shortages of essential medicines and protective gear as insecurity hampers delivery trucks.
Experts call for urgent action to secure health corridors and protect medical facilities. Until peace is restored, Haiti's healthcare workers and patients remain caught in the crossfire of a crisis that shows no sign of easing.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
