In the corridors of Saint-Marc’s Hôpital Saint-Nicolas (HSN), some thirty healthcare professionals gathered on May 8 and 9, 2025, for a training course that could well transform their practice for good. All came from the Artibonite department, representing healthcare institutions often faced with real challenges in biomedical waste management and infection prevention.
The training, organized as part of the BHA project, aimed to build infection prevention and control (IPC) capacity among managers, department heads and IPC focal points. For two days, the exchanges were concrete, the discussions rooted in the reality of Haitian health centers, and the participants particularly committed.
Among the trainers, Elkensy François, head of the HSN laboratory, shared his expertise with lucidity. What he observed left a lasting impression on him:
“The participants’ reactions and the questions they asked showed me how much I need to continue sharing my knowledge with them, to make them more aware in their work. “
His testimony highlights an all-too-frequent reality: poorly managed needlestick injuries, carelessly discarded hospital waste, and a general lack of ongoing training in the field. But this training opened a breach:
“This training confirmed to me that people were thirsty to learn, given their availability and commitment. During my years as a medical technician, I’d seen many cases of staff injuring themselves with needles or mismanaging waste, often due to a lack of resources. Those two days with the support teams left a deep impression on me. Every time we strengthen their skills, we help them prevent infections and better manage waste in hospitals and health centers.”
This success is not in the numbers but in the awareness. Through this training, healthcare professionals have acquired practical tools to better protect their patients, their colleagues and themselves. They leave with strengthened protocols, safer gestures, and, above all, a renewed determination to do better.
Beyond the training room, the entire care chain is strengthened. By equipping health facilities with trained and committed IPC leaders, this initiative is helping to improve health conditions in Artibonite. A concrete step towards safer care for the communities served.
With your support, we can continue to train, equip and accompany those who, every day, struggle to offer dignified care in often precarious conditions. Together, let’s invest in prevention. Make a donation today.