In December 2025, an initiative at Hôpital Bon Sauveur de Cange gave concrete expression to a conviction that runs through the entire Zanmi Lasante network: quality care rests first and foremost on the competence, ongoing training and recognition of nursing staff. The first edition of the Education Awards was not conceived as a one-off event, but as the illustration of a foundation of values and practices that Zanmi Lasante seeks to consolidate on a national scale.
In a Haitian context marked by strong structural constraints, strengthening the healthcare system cannot be limited to infrastructure or equipment. It means providing lasting support for the men and women who provide care on a daily basis. At Zanmi Lasante, nursing education is seen as a strategic pillar, on a par with the organization of services, the integration of care and continuity of care. Training, supporting and valuing nurses means investing directly in patient safety and in the solidity of the healthcare system.
The Education Awards initiative thus put forward a demanding, structured vision of nursing practice. It reminded us that care rests on solid scientific, ethical and human foundations. The care approach, clinical analysis, planning and evaluation are not abstract concepts, but concrete tools that guide every decision at the patient’s bedside. By valuing these principles, Zanmi Lasante affirms an approach to care where professional rigor and respect for the person being cared for go hand in hand.
Another central message carried by this initiative concerns the real impact of continuing education on the quality of services. Learning spaces, mentoring and academic activities boost team confidence, improve coordination between services and support more coherent care. In often high-pressure clinical environments, this shared professional foundation enables high standards to be maintained, even under difficult conditions.
Beyond individual skills, the Education Awards highlighted the importance of the collective. Nursing excellence is the result of teamwork, based on knowledge sharing, collaboration and mutual recognition. This approach helps to strengthen the sense of belonging and stability of teams, two essential elements in ensuring continuity of care over time and across the network.
The exchanges and reflections carried by this first edition also recalled the central role of nurses in the Haitian healthcare system. Their contribution goes far beyond the performance of technical tasks. They are involved in overall patient assessment, care coordination and family support. Fully recognizing this professional responsibility is a structuring choice for building a more efficient and equitable healthcare system.
While this initiative has taken shape in Cange, its scope extends far beyond a single site. It reflects principles that Zanmi Lasante seeks to reinforce in all its structures: investment in local skills, valorization of knowledge, transmission and preparation of the next generation. In this sense, the Education Awards is part of a broader strategy to strengthen the Haitian healthcare system, based on qualified, committed and recognized human resources.
This first edition is a reminder of an essential reality: excellence in healthcare is built over time. It is based on continuous learning, recognition of nursing work and a shared vision of care. By making nursing education a strategic focus, Zanmi Lasante is helping to lay a solid foundation for a more robust healthcare system, serving patients and communities across the country.
Supporting Zanmi Lasante means supporting a long-term vision for healthcare in Haiti. By investing in the training and recognition of nursing staff, you are helping to sustainably strengthen the quality of care and the future of the healthcare system.