In a rural health center, the quality of care depends on precise coordination and daily organization that leaves nothing to chance. At Cerca-la-Source, this responsibility falls to the nursing director, a position that directly influences patient safety, team motivation and the center’s ability to operate despite constraints. For the past five years, this mission has been carried out by Guerlande Benjamen Lucien.
Her role goes far beyond classic supervision. It’s all about keeping a service up and running in an environment where patient flows fluctuate, inputs can be scarce, and families rely on the structure for fast, consistent care. Each morning, she assesses staffing needs, allocates tasks, adjusts schedules and ensures that each care unit has the support it needs to achieve its objectives.
This organization is essential in an area where access to a doctor can be limited, and where nurses are often the first point of contact for patients. Guerlande works closely with community health workers, auxiliaries, registered nurses, project supervisors and center managers to ensure that care remains accessible and structured. She ensures compliance with protocols, supports teams in managing complex cases and trains new arrivals to reinforce service quality.
Her understanding of the field is a major asset. She knows the busy hours, the mobility challenges, the possible input shortages, the risks associated with unattended chronic illnesses, and the pressure a team facing emergency situations can be under. Her job is as much about planning as it is about reacting. When the situation calls for it, she intervenes directly on the ward, helps to streamline consultations and supports nurses and auxiliaries faced with a heavy workload.
One episode in particular illustrates the demands of her position. One day, a grandmother arrived in emergency with a severely malnourished baby, motherless and in critical condition. The child was listless, very thin and unable to react. In a context where every minute counts, the resources available were limited. Guerlande immediately mobilized her team, requested the pharmacist, gathered the necessary therapeutic milk, diapers and bottles, and coordinated care to stabilize the child.
“My commitment to providing quality care and helping others improve their well-being motivates me every day. I enjoy collaborating with my patients and the entire healthcare team, because together we make a difference.”
The intervention was quick, precise and collective. The baby survived. He is now two years old. For Guerlande, this memory is a daily reminder of the importance of structured leadership and a close-knit team.
Beyond emergencies, she carries out preventive actions in the community, particularly in churches and public spaces, where she raises awareness of nutrition, maternal health, chronic diseases and the importance of screening. This proximity to the population enables her to anticipate needs and reinforce confidence in the services.
The impact of her leadership is measured in the increased motivation of her team, the quality of interactions between colleagues and the satisfaction of beneficiaries. Services operate more coherently, coordination is more fluid and the work dynamic is marked by a well-established mutual respect.
For Guerlande, healthcare is a collective commitment. She reminds us that care depends as much on competence as it does on collaboration and a shared willingness to help the most vulnerable. At Cerca la Source, she embodies this vision of rigorous, humane work essential to maintaining a fragile but determined healthcare system.
Guerlande’s work shows the importance of an organized, responsive healthcare system capable of supporting families in vulnerable areas. Your support strengthens this capacity, especially where resources are limited and needs are high. Every contribution helps maintain essential services and support patients most at risk. Make a donation here.