In March 2025, the temporary closure of the University Hospital of Mirebalais due to insecurity abruptly interrupted care for hundreds of cancer patients across the country.
Among them was Kerline Lafalaise, a 40-year-old mother of two who underwent surgery in 2023 for cervical cancer. She had moved to Thomonde to be closer to the oncology department.
When the hospital closed, she waited. Weeks passed. With no news, and unable to afford the high fees of private facilities, she gradually lost hope.
“M te kwè yo bliye mwen. M te panse se te fini”
Four months later, the phone rang. It was Dr Gerson Benoît, head of the oncology department. Care was resuming, this time at Hôpital Bon Sauveur de Cange.
Kerline came. She was welcomed, received her medication and resumed her medical follow-up.
Moving oncology to Cange wasn’t easy. The premises were smaller, still being fitted out, and resources limited. But the priority was clear: no patient was to be left behind. The teams worked on a case-by-case basis, recalling patients, coordinating follow-ups, and restarting treatments interrupted by the closure.
For Kerline, this call was more than medical information. It was proof that she mattered, that her care wasn’t over, and that Zanmi Lasante would accompany her in her fight against cancer, wherever she went.
Because cancer can’t wait. And neither can we.
Every patient found is a victory. Your support enables us to reach them, to call them back and to continue care, even in times of crisis. Make a donation today.