When it comes to healthcare in Haiti, discussions often focus on the lack of infrastructure, the scarcity of equipment or the overcrowding of hospitals. Yet the real backbone of the system is its professionals - nurses like Elna Innocent, who embody both the frontline of care and the driving force behind the strengthening of healthcare systems.
For the past four years, Elna has worked in the pediatrics department at Hôpital Saint-Nicolas in Saint-Marc, one of the most in-demand centers in Artibonite. A graduate of the Université Publique de l’Artibonite in Gonaïves (UPAG), she chose this career after a painful personal experience: her little brother, hospitalized with an infected fracture, had suffered from a crying lack of attention from the staff. That day, Elna vowed to become a nurse, but to practice differently. Today, she’s keeping her word.
Beyond clinical care: a systemic role
As a line nurse, Elna doesn’t limit herself to administering treatment. She accompanies families with empathy, leads educational sessions, mentors student nurses and participates in the continuous improvement of care quality. In a country where the nurse-to-patient ratio remains dramatically low, her role illustrates the multiplying value of every well-trained professional: every child cared for, every parent advised, every student mentored represents a leverage effect on the entire system.
Elna’s experience reflects Zanmi Lasante’s vision: invest in human resources in health, support continuing education and develop mentoring. This is how nurses become not only caregivers, but also educators and leaders.
Les infirmières comme Elna Innocent incarnent à la fois la première ligne de soins et le moteur du renforcement des systèmes de santé.
A landmark case: proof of resilience and teamwork
Among the most vivid memories of her career, Elna tells the story of an infant admitted with several serious pathologies: encephalitis, congenital pneumonia, hepatosplenomegaly. The child went into respiratory arrest several times, requiring more than 33 oxygen tanks and the hard work of the entire team. Against all odds, he survived.
Receiving this baby a few months later, in perfect health and with no after-effects, was for Elna one of the most gratifying moments of her professional life. It’s proof that behind every survival, there’s a system that held together - because professionals were present and supported.
A lesson for the healthcare system
Despite the daily difficulties - lack of equipment, overwork, poor recognition - Elna continues to organize her department, involve parents in care and guide students. Her story goes beyond individual testimony: it demonstrates that investment in nurses is an essential pillar in strengthening healthcare systems in Haiti.
The country faces one of the lowest densities of healthcare professionals in the Americas region. Training, retaining and supporting caregivers is essential to widening access to quality care. Elna’s example clearly illustrates this return on investment: each strengthened professional becomes an impact multiplier.
To families, Elna firmly reminds them:
“When a child is sick, don’t wait. Get him to hospital in time. Prevention is better than cure. It’s not a proverb, it’s a truth.”
Supporting Zanmi Lasante means investing in human resources in health, the cornerstone of any solid system.
Make a donation today so that professionals like Elna can continue to transform the future of children and families in Haiti.